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LIFE AND ADVENTURES 



OF 



GEN. RYAN. 




THE CUBAN MARTYR 



BY AN OLD (JOMKADE. 



SCULLY & COMPANY, PUBLISHERS, 
CHICAGO AND NEW YORK. 

J876. 



LIFE AND ADVENTURES 



OF 



Gen. V^. a. C. RY AN^ 



THE CUBAN MAETTK.. 



OAPTTJRED ON THE STEAMER VIKamiUS, AND 

MUKDEEED BY THE SPANIARDS AT 

SANTIAGO, CUBA, NOV. 4, 1873. 

Comprising. four years in the Cuban Revolution 
— Four years in the U. S. Army, during the 
War in the United States — His adventures in the 
wilds of Montana — Startling escapades — Inter- 
esting family history — Etc. Together with 
sketches of the lives of Generals Varona, Del 
Sol, Cespedes, Capt. Fry, and others. 



BY AN OLD COMRADE. 



The dying words of Secretary of "War Rawlina— " Poor Cuba 
should be free." 



NEW YORK AND CHICAGO. 
1876, 



/^^^ 



Y 



Publisher's N^otiob. 

The manuscript of the ' ' Life and adven- 
tures of General Kfan " was presented to 
the undersigned for publication, that it might 
be the means of assisting the friends of the 
dead hero to carry out their design of having 
a monument erected to his memory. In 
presenting the work to the public he does so 
with considerable trepidation — because of a 
few slight errors that were overlooked by 
the proof-reader, and which were not discov- 
ered until after the pages were stereotyped — • 
and craves indulgence of the intelligent 
reader for the unintentional shortcomings. 
Being a newspaper man himself, he feels cer- 
tain that his brethren of the press will lend 
their generous aid to have the object of the 
book made a grand success, and to their 
consideration he specially appeals in the 
premises. 

John Geo. Ryan. 

September, 1876. 



Entered according to Act of Congreas, In the year 1876, by 

JOHN GEO. RYAN, 
In the OflS.ce of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 
2 ^~ All rights reserved. 



^B-^ji'fd 



ni 
COIVTTEJS^TS. 

Book I — Introductory, p. 7 — Genealogical, 
9 — The' quartette, 15 — Gen. Ryan's father's 
death, 16 — First artillery experience, 17 — 
First attempt to go soldiering, 20 — Clouds, 22 
— Into the Darkness, 24— Hanged, 24— Leav- 
ing home, 26— Gol. John G. Eyan, 27— The 
'^ Mysterious Prisoner," 29. 

Book II — Gen. Eyan in the United States 
army, 31 — At the front, 33 — ^ISTine wounds, 
and promotion,. 35-Battle of l^ewbern, JST. C, 
36 — Severely wounded, 37 — His gallantry 
communicated to his sister, 39 — Trouble 
ahead, 40 — At his grandmother's death bed, 
41 — Eeception in Canada ; referring to Pres. 
Lincoln, 42 — Disabilities removed, 43 — Made 
a Captain, 44 — The end of the war, 45 — 
Sword presentation, 46 — Two pictures, 47 — 
His opinion of the great men of the American 
Eebellion, 49 — Fenianism, 50. 

Book III — Out in the far West ; Montana, 
etc., 51— ]SI early a fatal hunt, 52— The Fisk 
expedition ; Eyan nearly hanged, 54 — His 
success, 58 — A trip to New York, 58 — Meet- 
ing of the brothers, 60-Back to Montana, 65- 
In the gold regions, 66 — Facts about General 
Meagher's drowning, 67 — ^Eyan's Montana 
troubles, 68 — Outlawry, 69 — The Yigilantes, 
70 — Eyan's partisanship, 71 — Fighting Sit- 
ting Bull, 75— The U. S. Marshalship, 76— 
At the national capital, 77 — Treachery, 80 — 
!N"early a cow-hiding matinee, 82 — Meeting 



IV Contents, 

the Cuban Gen. Groicouria, 84 — To Montana 
again, 85. 

Book IY — Kyan and Cuba, 85 — The cause 
of the war with Spain, 86 — The uprising at 
Yara, Oct. 10, 1868, 88— The war, 89— First 
battle, 92 — Gen. Jordan, 95 — The Perrit ex- 
pedition ; Ryan's expedition, 96 — Treachery, 
98— In Ludlow Street Jail, 100— The lovelj 
incognito^ 102 — Daring escape, 104 — The 
secret retreat, 108 — The New Orleans beauty, 
109— The secret council, 114 — The Spanish 
consul, 116 — The Gar diners Island expedi- 
tion ; more trouble and treachery, 113 — Mar- 
shal Barlow's raid; Gen. Ryan in Canada; 
cowliiding of Day ; Return to New York, 
125-8 —Plot to blow up the Spanish gunboats, 
130— Off for Cuba on the Anna, 136— In 
Cuba ; first battle, 138-40 — First impressions, 
141 — From his Diary, 143 — Inspector Gen- 
eral j execution of Spanish spies ; the Cuban 
army ; bloody work ; a bloody fight ; a ter- 
rible battle, 144-50 — Retoliation ; Gen. Ryan 
to the Governor ; the gory field ; Interesting 
letter, 153-7 — The Cavalry corps ; a lively 
battle ; monkey and parrot story ; Gen. Jor- 
dan leaves the island; fighting; hanging a 
spy ; retrospective ; a conference ; attack on 
St. Miguel ; Ryan challenged ; with Presi- 
dent Cespeds ; return to ISTew York ; perilous 
trip ; in Nassau ; grand banquet ; in New 
York, 159-Y5 — The Spanish beauty ; thirty- 
three battles, etc.; sword and flag presenta- 



Contents, v 

tion; again a prisoner; $25,000 bail; his 
mission to the United States ; Franco-Irish 
sympathy meeting ; Farragut funeral, 177-89- 
Second anniversary Cuban independence ; the 
Hornet expedition, (very interesting details), 
191-5— Back to E"ew York ; progress of the 
war ; the illustrious dead ; Montaner, the out- 
law, killed ; appeal to the United States tor 
recognition ; Our Society, 196-200 — Kyan 
challenged; Col. Waite backs down; Gen'l 
Cavada's execution ; recognition eiforts ; Cin- 
cinnati convention, 201-6 — the Fannip, expe- 
dition, (Interesting details) ; attempted assas- 
sination ; return to Washington, 208-12 — 
Letter from Col. Harry Eeeves ; jealous slan- 
der ; the Edgar Stuart expedition ; appeal to 
the negroes ; Death of Gen. Agramonte ; the 
mysterious Spanish lady, 213-17 — The ill- 
fated Virginius expedition ; at Kingston, Ja- 
maica ; a princely time of it ; startling adven- 
ture ; at Port au Prince, etc.; fatal telegram ; 
the pursuit ; wish to blow up the vessel ; the 
capture ; found guilty of piracy ; in Santiago's 
prison ; night before the murder ; last letters 
and will, 220-37 — -The slaughter-pen ; refusal 
to kneel and be blind-folded ; the murder of 
ErAN and 50 others ; arrival of the Niobe ; 
press and statesmen on the massacre ; Gen. 
Custer on Ryan ; missing personal eifects of 
Gen. Etan ; Yarona, Cespedes, Del Sol, and 
Capt. Fry; secret societies, 238-256. 



This work is dedicated 

to the memory of the heroes of 

the late war in the United States^ 

and the jpresent one in Cuba^ 

who died for jprincijple. 



LIFE 



OF 



General Ryan, 



" They never fail who die 
In a great cause ; the block may soak their gore, 
Their heads may sodden in the sun; their limbs 
Be strung from city gates and castle walls ; 
But still their spirits walk abroad." [Byron. 

["Lafayette, Pulaski, DeKalb, Steuben and 
Kosciusko were filibusters and pirates, if General 
Ryan was."] 

Before entering thorougUy upon the nar- 
rative of the liie of General Ryan, the author 
desires to state that he has undertaken a task 
which might be more faithfully performed by 
a mind erudite and a pen facile and polished ; 
but in doing so he feels that critics will over- 
look his shortcomings, when they become 
aware that he aims at no literary merit, but 
merely the plain portrayal of interesting facts 
in the public career of one who played such a 
prominent part in life's great drama, and at 
last gave up a promising and brilliant future 

7 



8 Life of 

by falling a willing victim to the glorious 
cause of Cuba's freedom. He leaves to a 
brighter intellect and more florid painter the 
enviable pleasure of doing full justice to the 
character of him who was the peer of Lafay- 
ette as a patriot, the equal of that grand and 
glorious soldier, Marshal l^ey, as a martyr ; 
and the would-be equal of the immortal IS'a- 
poleon I. as a warrior. 

The author believes that in this advanced 
age of intelligence the notable acts of public 
men should be handed down to posterity in a 
tangible form, that coming generations may 
be benefitted thereby. This is one of the 
reasons why he contributes these imperfect 
sketches to the world's literature, that they 
may furnish a chapter from which the histo- 
rian ma}^ gain some information. And 
another is, the performance of a sacred duty 
to the memory of his dear, murdered friend, 
comrade in arms, associate in social life, and 
brave, chivalrous, dashing, handsome, charit- 
able and honest gentleman, under all circum- 
stances ; and who — if he had been spared his 
cruel fate, and opportunity offered — would 
have dazzled the world, and held it transfixed 
in wonderment, as did the mighty luminary 
he aimed to emulate, history's grandest mili- 
tary genius, he whose sun of glory went down 
at Waterloo, and sank forever upon the sea- 
washed rocks of St. Helena. 

For the principal portion of the materials 



Gen. Ryan. 9 

used in this work the author acknowledges 
himself especially indebted to his hero's bro- 
ther, Col. John Geo. Eyan, of Pine Bluif, 
Arkansas, a newspaper man, who requests 
him to return 4iis, the colonel's, sincere and 
heartfelt thanks to his brethren of the press 
throughout the country for the many gener- 
ous remarks passed upon his murdered bro- 
ther. Gratitude is also due Gen. Martin 
Beem and Col. W. S. Scribner, of Chicago, 
111., and Capt. John W. Teuton, Washington, 
D. C, three as gallant soldiers as ever drew 
sword for libery, and who fought with Gen. 
Ryan under the stars and stripes during the 
late rebellion in the United States. 

Col. Ryan placed at the author's disposal 
an immense collection of letters and papers, 
and a life-time diary of the General. From 
these, and reminiscences gleaned from the 
memory of the General's friends, the major 
portion of the work is compiled. 

To dwell at length upon the many interest- 
ing incidents here introduced would far ex- 
ceed the size of this production ; even faint 
elaboration would make a very large volume. 
However, in time the public may be gi-atified 
in this respect. 

GENEALOGICAL. 

Gen. William Albert Charles' Ryan was 
born March 28, 1843, in Toronto, Canada. 
Consequently, at the time of his murder, the 



10 Life of 

4tli of JS'ov., 18Y3, he had just passed his thir- 
tieth year. He was the third son of a family 
of four ; the fourth, and youngest, being a 
girl. His father, Capt. John Kyan, was the 
only son of Major Patrick Eyan who fought 
in the celebrated Fifth Dragoon Guards under 
Wellington, and distinguished himself in the 
historical battles of Waterloo, Salamanca, 
Corruna, Lorena, the siege of Badajos, aud 
numerous other engagements, coming out of 
each covered with glory, and often receiving 
severe wounds. 

It is a very remarkable fact that he, our 
hero's father, was born on the battle-field, in 
Spain, and under the same flag that floated 
over and authorized his son's inhuman butch- 
ery. The same gun that heralded the com- 
mencement of the bloody battle of Salamanca 
announced the advent of Gen. Kyan's father 
into this world. In those days it was not an 
unusual thing for officers' ladies to accom- 
pany their husbands to the tented field, and 
time and again did Mrs. Major Ryan hear the 
awful clash of battle, and witness the terrible 
carnage after each bloody conflict while nurs- 
ing the to-be father of the illustrious Cuban 
martyr. The adventures of this lady were 
many, romantic and interesting while in the 
tented field, under danger ot the screeching 
shell, or on the long and dreary march ; and 
her relation of them immensely delighted her 
heroic grandson when a mere boy. She was 



Gen. Ryan. 11 

held in sucli liigh esteem as to be, ^lien in 
foreign lands, entrusted with the army's 
money. On one occasion, while in Portugal, 
this fact nearly cost her her life. One of her 
escort deserted, and returned with a band of 
native robbers who attacked her, for the pur- 
pose of plunder. Fortunately a force of dra- 
goons arrived in time to disperse the bandits, 
who fled, leaving several of their number be- 
hind dead. 

The acquaintance of this lady and Major 
Ryan was brought about by a remarkably 
sad, aye horrible, chapter in her family his- 
tory. Her father was a Mr. — . Paine, of 
the same stock as the illustrious Tom Paine, 
the so-called infidel, and brother of the chief 
of police of Dublin, and of a church Df Eng- 
land minister officiating near that city. Dur- 
ing the Irish Rebellion oi 1Y98, it is said that 
he was murdered by a Roman Catholic mob. 
While the Fifth Dragoon Guards were on 
duty guarding Mr. Paine' s residence, after 
the latter' s murder, Major Ryan and Miss 
Lizzie Paine formed the acquaintance that 
culminated in their marriage. The fact that 
Miss Paine became connected with the Ro- 
man Catholic church after her marriage, 
would seem to belie the statement that her 
father was killed for his anti-Catholic profes- 
sions. 

During this season of mourning in the 
Paine family another sister and a Captain 



12 Life of 

Russell, of the Life Guards, formed an at- 
taeliment that resulted in their union. The 
descendents oi this alliance reside near Mon- 
treal, Canada. 

These marriages of the Misses Paine, so 
lar as their espousing the Catholic faith, were 
very much frowned upon by the rest of the 
family. But the lovers cared not. 

Gkn. Eyan's mother was named Eliza, a 
danghter of Mr. Patrick Burke, a well-to-do 
gentleman of Birr, Kings county, Ireland, in 
whose veins flowed the same blood that 
coursed through those of the illustrious Irish 
orator and statesman of the same name. Her 
family, also, was of a military turn of mind, 
and she now has a brother a Captain, or ex- 
Captain, of the British army, residing in 
Dublin, in comparative ease. He ran away 
from school when quite yonng, joined the 
British army, went to India, and through a 
series of brilliant exploits, won his spurs as a 
Captain. In India he married, and has now 
around him a happy family. He was held in 
such high esteem by the British government 
that one of his sons was complimented with 
a commission as a military surgeon. He now 
looks forward to the early promotion of a gal- 
lant young nephew. Will Manning, a subal- 
tern officer in the artillery in the afar-off tor- 
rid East Indies. 

Gen. Pyan's father would have followed 
the army as a profession, if it had not been 



Gen. Ryan, 13 

for the bursting of a blood-vessel at a very 
early age, wliich rendered sucli a course im- 
possible. When a child, he was considered 
the pet of his father's regiment, because of 
his intelligent and winning manners. Lord 
Gough, one of England's brightest soldiers, 
promised the little fellow a Captaincy, and 
forever after, in the command, he was known 
as the " little Captain." 

An amusing incident once occurred to the 
"little Captain." The soldiers desired to 
have a good time, but had not the pecuniary 
means to carry out their wishes. Here the 
"little Captain" was brought into requisi- 
tion. He consented to be secreted. A gen- 
eral alarm was sounded. The mother was 
nearly distracted, and offered any amount for 
his recovery. At last he was found, and the 
soldiers restoring him each received a pound, 
equivalent to five dollars of American money. 
With this fund they made merry, and time 
and oft toasted their little friend. It was 
years after, when nearly all the characters in 
the play had melted into earth, that the epi- 
sode was made public. This was at a Ma- 
sonic dinner in London, where high and low 
members of the craft were assembled. Major 
Ryan was a Mason ol high standing, and 
was the recipient of a large silver medal 
from his brethren. On one side of it was en- 
graved the emblems of the order, and on the 
other l^e names of the battles in which he 



14 Life of 

liad been engaged. This medal descended to 
General Ryan, and saved his life in one of 
the battles ot the late war in the United 
States. It was struck by a bullet while on 
his breast. 

After the close of the war, when the iron 
heel of the great Napoleon was lifted from 
the neck of Europe, and the iconoclast's star 
had ceased to dazzle the world, and make his 
enemies tremble with fear, Major Ryan re- 
tired from the strife of battle to the shades of 
peaceful life, and took up his residence in 
Birr, Kings county, Ireland, the home of 
Miss Burke, his future daughter-in-law. 

In the course of time Miss Burke, who was 
considered a very lovely and estimable young 
lady, and the tall, dashing, handsome and 
splendid looking "Capt." John Ryan met, 
and formed an acquaintance that resulted in 
their marriage.- 

A tinge of romance attached to this union. 
To some extent, both families were opposed 
to it, and endeavored to keep the lovers apart. 
This opposition only heightened their pas- 
sion. They met one lovely night, repaired 
to a Protestant clergyman and got married. 
This action they immediately hastened to dis- 
close to the "old folks." A scene followed. 
But the finale was a public marriage by a 
Catholic clergyman. 

This union proved a happy one, and its 
product was three boys and one girl — I^atrick 



Gen. Ryan. 16 

Burke, Jotin George, Wm. Albert Charles, 
and Lizzie. 

Shortly after the birth of their first child 
Capt. John Rjan turned his eyes to the afar 
oif West, the great world beyond the broad, 
blue Atlantic ocean, and in due time left the 
home of his fathers, and soon found himself 
and young family breathing the pure air that 
swept across the beautiful bay that fronts 
Ontario's pride of a city, Toronto, the birth- 
place ot our hero. He was soon followed by 
his father and mother, who could not bear 
being separated from him. 

In a few short years Major Hyan was sud- 
denly relieved of his earthly troubles, and 
passed calmly into the shadowy land, wept 
over by a loving family, and mourned by a 
large concourse of friends. 

Captain Ryan soon followed his father, and 
their bodies were laid side by side in the 
silent tomb, in the little rural cemetery at 
the Lower Gore, near Toronto, Canada, 
where ten years later were consigned the re- 
mains of Mrs. Major Ryan. General Ryan, 
a grandson she much loved, assisted at the 
last sad ceremony. 

THE QUARTETTE. 

The family of Captain Ryan prospered in 
health, and grew up to man's estate. At 
this writing, 1876, the eldest, Patrick Burke, 
is residing in Joliet, Illinois, surrounded by a 



16 Life of 

briglit little family, and beloved by a host of 
friends ; and especially by his Masonic breth- 
ren. Miss Lizzie is now the wife of Mr. T. 
A. Kelly, a merchant of Chicago, Illinois, to 
whom she has borne five lovely children, two 
boys and three girls. Col. John George re- 
sides in Arkansas. He will appear in an- 
other chapter. Being closely allied with his 
lamented brother, the General, he will be 
here and there scattered Ihrouhhout this nar- 
rative to its close. 

GEN. 

After Capt. Kyan's death Mrs. Ryan was 
suddenly called to Ireland to attend to some 
matters relating to her father's estate in which 
she was personally and pecnniarily interested. 
She remained away two years. 

During the mother's absence P. Burke and 
Lizzie were entrusted to the care of their pa- 
ternal grandmother, residing on her farm 
near Toronto ; and John George and William 
Albert Charles were placed in charge of 
their mother's brother, P. Burke, then, and 
now, editor and proprietor of the Dispatch^ 
St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada,' a very worthy 
gentleman. This was about 1852. It was 
while with their uncle that both the boys 
received that nucleus of a knowledge of the 
prmting business, and groundwork of a good 
moral and general schoolastic education, that 
enabled them to battle against the trials of 



Gen. Ryan, 17 

their matnrer years. Before tliey were res- 
pectively eleven and thirteen they each could 
set and distribute 7000 ems of type per day. 
Most of the old residents of St. Thomas will 
remember the bright little fellows who car- 
ried them their paper, twenty years ago, in 
sunshine or rain. One of them was our hero, 
Gren. Eyan. 

In the summer of 1854 the mother returned 
from Europe and took up her residence in 
Toronto, and gathered once more to her 
heart her four interesting children. Although 
the dark cloud, consequent upon the loss of 
her husband, that hung over head seemed 
ominous for her future, still it had a silver 
lining in the sunny faces of her bright little 
ones. 

FIKST EXPEKIENCE WITH ''ARTILLERY." 

To show at what an early age our liero de- 
veloped a talent for dabbling with dangerous 
things, the following incident will fully illus- 
trate. In the main it is interesting. General 
Ryan was only eight years old at the time : 

Shortly after their lather's death, and dur- 
a temporary absence of their mother from 
home, Will and Jack, as they were generally 
called, concluded to make arrangements to 
have a kind of Queen's birthday frolic ol 
their own. To accomplish this effectually an 
old revolutionary musket was "cut down" to 
make a cannon. By a picture of one they con- 

A 



18 Life of 

stnicted a fort, facing a favorite apple tree, on 
whicli a shingle was tacked. At this juncture 
the '^ enemy," in the person of their grand- 
mother, suddenly appeared, charged the bat- 
tery, captured the gun, demolished the works, 
and made the boys prisoners. For safe keep- 
ing, the cannon was thrown into the well. 

This discomforture only sharpened their 
appetites, and at the same time their wits. 

A council of war was held in the barn, and 
it was developed that the other piece of the 
musket could be utilized by having lead 
melted into it to form a breech, etc., and that 
by the " house folks" finding no eggs on the 
premises for several days a good supply of 
ammunition could be procured. Money was 
scarce with boys in those days. For two 
days it was a profound mystery to the ' ' old 
lady" why no eggs could be found, notwith- 
standing the fact that the domestic fowl did 
its usual amount of cackling. The fault was 
due to "them neighbors." 

In due time everything was ready for the 
grand blow out. One morning the old lady 
was supposed to be absent. But she was in- 
doors, closeted away from "them noisy 
boys." This was glorious for the embryo 
artillerymen. The fortification was hurriedly 
erected, the cannon loaded with powder and 
shot to the muzzle, and planted, the target 
placed on the tree, and everything made 
ready. The boys were in the highest glee. 



Gen. Ryan, 19 

As Jack was about to ^'turn her loose" 
Will told him to stop, that he was not in the 
right position ; that he should, like the man 
in the picture, stand beside, instead of behind 
the cannon. This close attention to details 
no doubt saved Jack's life. Jack changed 
position, and bang she went. The report was 
loud and startling. When the smoke died 
awaj the tree was found shattered, the forti- 
fication demolished, and the gun dismounted. 
The boys looked at each other in speechless 
wonder. But they soon came to their senses, 
and just in time to flee, and escape the wrath 
of their incensed grandame, who was rap- 
idly moving on their position, with evident 
intention of striking their rear and cutting off 
their retreat. But her Waterloo tactics were 
futile for their capture, and she had to be con- 
tent with the other fruits of victory. 

The serious feature of this escapade, and 
which made the old madam think another 
battle of Salamanca was being inaugurated, 
was the startling fact that the big slug of lead 
that formed the cannon's breech was blown 
out at the discharge, and sent crashing right 
through the door, near which she was quietly 
seated reading, and a few inches from her 
head, tearing away a long sliver of wood, and 
wound up by smashing the mirror in which 
the old lady used to admire her venerable but 
truly comely person. 

It will also be seen that if it was not for 



20 Life of 

our young hero's quick discernment in alter- 
ing his brother's position, that worthy's bril- 
liant career would have been suddenly closed, 
by the mass of metal striking his center, and 
hurrying him off to join the angels. 

It is needless to state that after this exploit 
an abundance of eggs could be found, as 
usual, about the premises. 

Gen. Ryan used to relate this incident with 
considerable gusto, while sitting by the camp- 
fires during the dreary night-watches of the 
war of the great rebellion. 

FIKST ATTEMPT TO GO SOLDIERING. 

To further show to what an inordinate de- 
gree our hero was naturally possessed by the 
desire for military life and the pomp of war, 
it is only necessary to give another incident 
in his boyhood's life. In the summer of 
1855 the British government had recruiting 
officers in Canada enlisting men for her forces 
in the East Indies. The recruiting sergeants 
lield out all sorts of seductive inducements to 
entice into their trap the unwary. A grand 
display of flags, ribbons, gay uniforms, and 
lively music, together with marvelous tales 
of the wonders of that remote torrid country, 
were features of the pleasing picture. As a 
matter of course, this aroused the latent fire 
in our hero's breast, and fanned it into a 
blaze. At this time he was not thirteen years 



Gen. Ryan. 21 

of age, but was quite tall. As tlie recruiting 
jpartj marched along King street, on their 
way to the barracks, our hero stood irreso- 
lute for a time on the corner, gazing on 
them. At last he gave way, and stepped into 
the' ranks, and marched to headquarters. His 
chair was vacant at his mother's table that 
noon. In the afternoon he came marching in 
to that astonished ladj, who became horrified 
when she learned the true cause of "her 
boy " being bedecked with rbibons. After 
getting over her excitement, she marched the 
"young gentleman" to a cab, and was driven 
to the barracks, where she had him trans- 
mogrified Into. a civilian once more, much to 
his chagrin, as he confidentially told his 
brother J. G. that evening, because he desired 
to "become a soldier, and fight his way to 
fame, like E'apoleon." 

Down, again, he had to get to his books, 
after his gay coccade had been laid aside — a 
task he despised, so far as the school-room 
routine was concerned. 

He loved to read romance, poetry, song, 
travels, biographies of distinguished military 
men, and of characters like that noble soul, 
Kobert Emmett. He read incessantly, and 
his memory was so retentive that he could, 
after two readings, repeat correctly any ordin- 
ary-sized song. He was so fond of reading 
that often he has been found lying on the floor 
of a morning, and his book beside him, hav- 



22 Life of 

ing read so late that nature gave out and he 
toppled over. He was enraptured with Mil-- 
ton, Shakspeare, Bjron, Moore and Long- 
fellow. Tragic, heroic and sublime verse 
were his favorites ; still he revelled at times 
in the entrancing bowers of Moore's song, 
and was constantly humming, "Remember 
the glories of Brian, the brave," which, after 
his murder, his newspaper friends, in speak- 
ing of him, changed into "Rjan, the brave." 
He was, also, passionately interested in the 
sad fate of that great warrior. Marshal I^Tey. 
The dashing and chivalric Murat, and Lord 
Byron's "Corsair," were among his idols; 
and Napoleon was his earthly deity. 

These few facts are introduced to show 
that the statements of many prominent men 
are not far wrong that General Ryan was a 
born soldier, and inherited from his ancestors 
those traits of military genius that placed one 
so young so very conspicuous before the 
whole world. 

CLOUDS GATHEKING-. 

When least expected by the children, and 
most certainly not thought of by their lov- 
ing parent, in the latter part of 1855, a cir- 
cumstance occurred that changed the current 
of Mrs. Ryan's happiness, until death— 21 
years later, at the time of this writing, 
1876— relieved her of a terrible burden. 



Gen. Ryan. 23 

This calamity was her second marriage. 
Her new partner soon fell under the base 
influence of the demon alcohol, and turned 
the family paradise into a house of sorrow 
and tears. He prostituted good health and a 
fine education at the shrine of Bacchus, and 
gathered around his home black clouds, and 
scattered away the sunshine that was wont to 
preside there. His name is omitted here out 
of regard for the memory of General Kyan, 
who abhorred him. He is dead now, and 
tlie great I Am will judge whether or not his 
lieart prompted his miserable conduct to- 
ward his wife and her little family, and 
the vail of charity will here be thrown over 
his sad record. 

One October nisjht, in 1867 it is believed, 
the storm that had been so long brewing 
broke forth in all its fury, and when the angry 
winds lulled to a sigh, Mrs. Ryan found her- 
self alone with him who should have made 
her happy, instead of miserable. Her child- 
ren had to flee from the parental roof and go 
out into the bleak world to seek a home and 
friends, and she was miserable. It appears 
that the stepfather, while in his cups, vio- 
lently assaulted J. G. This the latter quickly 
resented by felling his powerful assailant to 
the floor with a heavy iron poker. This act 
capped the climax, and J. G. left that house 
hurriedly through a window at the end of two 
sheets, tied together by his affrighted mother. 



24 Life of 

The family nest was now effectually broken 
up ; the young had taken flight, and the vul- 
ture and the dove only remained. The chil- 
dren and their mother never met together, at 
one time, afterward, but she continued to pray 
and watch, and suifer, and wait until God in 
His mercy lifted her load and bade her arise 
and walk forth free, no longer the drunkard's 
wife. 

But when this rejoicing came her idolized 
boy had been snatched away, ruthlessly torn 
from her loving heart by the red-handed 
Spaniard, and she was left wrapped up in 
deepest woe. 

INTO THE DARKNESS. 

The night of this domestic brawl was fright- 
ful without. The winds howled and moaned, 
and the rain rushed through the black shroud 
of night like a roaring avalanche, cold and 
drenching. Into this dreary turmoil stepped 
J. G. and our hero. "It was an awful 
night," said Gen. Ryan; "the winds howled 
most dismally, the thunder loudly roared and 
crashed, the lightning flitted frightfully 
through the inky darkness, like countless me- 
teors, and the rain fell in a perfect sluice. I 
thought the end of time had come as we 
three, mother, brother and I, stood shivering 
there under the poor shelter of a small tree, 
while in the dim distance could be seen the 



Gen. Ryan, 25 

lamp's flicker, as that madman of a stepfather 
rushed through the house looking for us." 

While the elements warred thus savagely 
the wretched mother and her two children 
groped their way through the darkness to a 
friend's welcome shelter, where they spent 
the night. 

Dm-ing the enactment of this distasteful 
little drama the other two children were on a 
visit to their grandmother in the country. 

AFTERWARD HAl^^GED. 

As the trio were hurrying along through 
the pitiless storm a little figure, carrying a 
lantern, joined them, and helped guide their 
steps through the darkness and mud. It was 
young Fleming, a friend of the boys, and a 
telegraph messenger. He was a bright, in- 
telligent boy, and had worked himself out of 
the filthiest purlieus of society to his present 
position. He was a courteous and honest lad, 
and a favorite with the operators. Display- 
ing a talent for the cabalistic profession, these 
gentlemen assisted his eftbrts, and soon he 
ceased to deliver messages and was promoted 
as assistant operator. Thus he advanced, 
until he arrived at the top of the ladder, being 
considered the best " sound " operator in the 
country. In those days "sound" operators 
were among the wonders. ISTow he was very 
much envied by the dirty tribe he herded 



26 Life of 

with when a child, because he would not join 
in their vile orgies. Fortune continued to 
lavish her favors on him. Her was appointed 
to the managership of the Montreal office, 
and. was to leave the next day. He never 
went. That night he was insulted and as- 
saulted by a ruffian of his earlj^-day acquaint- 
ance. In defending himself he drove a knife 
to his heart, and he fell dead. Poor Fleming 
was arraigned and tried for murder in the 
first degree, and convicted. Notwithstanding 
the efforts of his friends to mollify the law, the 
unfortunate young fellow was hanged to death 
outside of the high wall of the old stone jail 
in Toronto, one gloomy, drizzhng morning in 
the fall of 1857. Upon none fell more heavily 
this sad news than on our hero. Strange, 
both so promising, and each came to an un- 
natural death. 

LEAVING HOME. 

The day after the domestic wrangle the 
mother concluded to accede to the boys' wish 
to go to the States, notwitstanding the pang 
it would cause her heart. "W. A. C. mapped 
out the lovely city of Buffalo for his future 
home, while J. G. cast his eyes away south- 
ward, and. let them rest upon ISTew Orleans, 
the great metropolis of the sunny south, the 
cradle of chivalry and refinement, beautiful 
women, sweet flowers and soft blue skies. 
In that lovely region he had some friends, 



Gen. Ryan, 27 

among whom were the late Joseph Barker, 
his banker ; Col. John O. Mxon, the talented 
editor of the Crescent^ and P. Bojle, after- 
ward connected with the Canadian Fenian 
excitement, and editor of the Irish Canadian^ 
of Toronto. 

W. A. C. had, also, a number of friends in 
BuiFalo, and around JSTiagara Falls. 

In due time the sad parting took place, the 
mother was kissed an adieu, tears were shed, 
and the boys started out into the treacherous 
world to battle against its many vicissitudes. 

The three never met together again. 

COL. J. G. RTAN-. 

We will now leave our hero to his studies 
in Buffalo, and hurriedly sketch his brother's 
eventful career up to the time they first met, 
which was not until June 1867. 

After a short stay in the Crescent City he 
became connected with the Liberty, Miss., 
Herald^ and the old residents of that beauti- 
ful little place may yet remember the cur ley- 
haired blonde who used to stroll about with 
the tall, dashing brunette, Herbert Poindex- 

ter, the chief editor Back again to the 

seductive charms of voluptuous S^ew Orleans 
life .... Then a dangerous siege of Yellow 
Jack. . . . Out of this into the whirling vortex 
of the great rebellion, and other ups and 



28 Life of 

downs, until we find him an Arkansas Col- 
onel of Cavalry. 

J. G-. soon became thorongUy imbued 
with southern ideas, and when the war com- 
menced he was one of the first to volunteer. 
Sickness prevented him accompanying the 
Third Louisiana in the north Arkansas cam- 
paign, so he remained for awhile at Pine 
Bluff, Ark., where he joined K company 
of the 18th Arkansas regiment. He was with 
this command at the siege of Fort Pillow, the 
battle of Farmington, the skirmishing around 
Corinth, the retreat from Corinth by Beaure- 
gard, the battle of luka, and the bloody fight 
at Corinth Oct. 3rd and 4:th, 1862. In this 
terrible battle he was several times wounded 
and made prisoner. In May, 1863, he es- 
caped to his friends from luka, Miss., hospital 
prison. "When Grierson made his celebrated 
raid down through Mississippi from Memphis 
he and Lieutenants Smith, Baird and Daily, 
and sergeant A. P. Turner, of Crawfordsville, 
Miss., organized a cavalry squadron, and he 
was commissioned its Captain. It was a 
splendid body of young men, but it did not 
catch the lightning raider. In a few months 
this and other squadrons were organized into 
a regiment, the 16th Confederate, Ryan's 
being the senior. The first battle of this new 
command was on the 24th of June, 1864, at 
Lafayette, northwest Ceorgia. It was in Gen. 
Pillow's cavalry division, which was soundly 



Gen. Ryan. 29 

whipped. In this he got wounded, at the 
same time as the gallant Colonel Phil. B. 
Spence, of ITashville, Tenn., and Gen. C. G. 
Armistead, of Grenada, Miss. After this 
'^d — d fool mistake of Pillow," to use the ex- 
pressive language of Colonel Ball, of Ala- 
bama, Ryan was placed in command of the 
forces at Talladega, Ala. But along dashed 
the Federal General Rousseau and made him 
flj southward. IS'ow a disturbance with his 
commanding officer caused him to be sent on 
special duty in General Dick Taylor's depart- 
ment, where he surrendered. May 12, 1865, 
at Jackson, Miss. It is to be presumed that 
the ''handsome, curly-haired boy captain," 
as the little gii-ls styled him, did his duty in 
the fratricidal conflict, for he had his right 
leg broken twice by balls, and shot twice 
below the knee, his right hand perforated 
twice, his left thumb and cheek struck, and 
now carries a. ball in his right knee and one 
in his left hip. 

THE MTSTEEIOUS PRISONER. 

After the war Colonel J. G. gained con- 
siderable notoriety by his arrest in the Gay- 
080 hotel, Memphis, Tenn., on suspicion of 
being John H. Surratt, one of those supposed 
to have been connected with the murder of 
President Lincoln. He was heavily ironed 
hand and foot, and stapled down to the floor 



30 Life of 

of that bastile, the Irving block, Jnly 20th. 
From Memphis he was taken to Washington. 
Col. Louis B. Smith, of the 3rd United States 
artillery, lately deceased in Chicago, 111., and 
^NQ men of the 120th Illinois volunteers, were 
his escort. When in Washington he was 
closely confined in the Old Capitol prison, 
and part of the time in the "sweat box," a 
filthy dungeon, merely because he would not 
disclose the means by which he communicated 
to Sir Frederick Bruce, the British minister. 
From Washington he was removed to Prison 
No. 1, Yicksburg, Miss. There .his chains 
were removed by General Slocum, who per- 
mitted him to communicate with the outer 
world. From this prison he was released in 
November, 1865, by order of the war depart- 
ment, without ever having received a trial, 
hearing, investigation or interrogation. 

After his release from prison Colonel Ryan 
became connected for a time with the Jack- 
son, Miss., Standard. Afterward he went 
to Fine Bluff, Arkansas, and established 
and ably edited the Southern Vindicator^ a 
fiery sheet, and conducted it fearlessly during 
Governor Clayton's radical reign. After this 
he edited a Brooks reform paper in Southeast 
Arkansas, and more subsequently was associ- 
ate editor of the Pine Bluff Press, Col. C. G. 
Newman's able paper. During his editorial 
career Col. Ryan had to smell considerable 
"personal" powder. In these difficulties 



Gen, Ryan. 31 

kansas." During the 1874 gubernatorial war 
in that state, between Baxter and Brooks, the 
Colonel took the side of Baxter, and was on 
the staff of the srallant Major Gen. H. Kinsr 
White. J S 

It is learned, from an interview that Col. 
M. E. Stone, editor of the Chicago Courier^ 
had with Col. Ryan, that the latter intends 
suing the United States government for dam- 
ages for falsely imprisoning him in 1865. It 
appears he should be largely indemnified for 
the monstrous outrage. 



BOOK 11. 

GEN. RYAN EST THE UNITED STATES ARMY. 

It is not necessary to dwell upon the little 
incidents in our hero's life up to the time of 
the inauguration of the late great war in the 
United States, although many of them would 
be very readable. It is sufficient to say that 
he had his trials and tribulations ; but during 
them all he never seemed to lose sight of the 
idea, as instilled into him by the prognostica- 
tions of Prot. Fowler, the phrenologist, that 



32 Life of 

there was a future for him tinged with the 
halo of glorj and renown. While in Buifalo 
he entrusted his endacated to a Mons. Favre 
Larue, a French- American gentleman, and a 
finished scholar. As a natural consequence, 
his association with this gentleman heightened 
young Ryan's military notions. Under his 
tutorship he soon became a very good English 
scholar, and quite expert with the sword and 
pistol. In after days it was said that he was 
a regular Paul de Oassagnac with the sword, 
and a Capt. Travis with the pistol and rifle. 

While in Buifalo General Ryan became ac- 
quainted with the family of Col. John Fisk, 
ot Suspension Bridge. He had four nephews, 
James L., Robert E., Dan. W., and Yan, all 
of whom came out of the war elevated to pos- 
itions of ofl&cers, and covered with coveted 
honors. 

When the tocsin of war sounded, that her- 
alded an attack upon the great sisterhood of 
states, with a view to divide them. General 
Ryan joined with these young gentlemen, and 
his true-to-the-last friend Capt. John W. 
Fenton, for the purpose of organizing com- 
panies of soldiers to march against the na- 
tion's foes. His was not the heart to falter 
when danger threatened the flag he had 
learned to love. He rallied at the approach 
of the ''first cloud that had gathered over 
the destiny of this grand nation, established 
by the greatest men of any agje, baptized 



Gen. Ryan, S3 

witli tlie best blood of heaven-born patriots, 
and handed down to the safe keeping of a 
noble posterity by heroes who wrested their 
liberty from the iron jaws of Britain's feroci- 
ous lion, by daring to dash forward and res- 
cue it from such polluted keeping." 

As the dread alarm spread from sea-coast to 
mountain top, over peaceful hamlets and rich 
harvest fields, and while the great heart of 
the nation throbbed and ached at the awful 
impending calamity, no cooler counselor was 
to be found among the young men, who after- 
ward furnished the bone and sinew of the 
army, than ''Whack" Ryan. This anxiety 
of the people for the nation's weal was at one 
time, as all know full well, like a sweeping 
avalanche in its awful earnestness. The dis- 
mal blast of warning was echoed and re- 
echoed until it burst forth like a peal of mad- 
dened thunder, and awakened every patriot 
to the horrible reahty that the flag their 
fathers fought for had been fired upon, the 
life of the nation threatened, and a bloody 
and fratricidal war about to be inaugurated 
by a few discontented malcontents determined 
to shatter the government into chaotic frag- 
ments, in their "idiotic endeavor to set up a 
kingdom or empire for the perpetuation of the 
unholy reign of slave power." 

AT THE FRONT. 

In due time our hero found himself in front 

AA 



34 Life of 

of tlie enemy, witli ample opportunity to dis- 
play all the alDility, natural and acquired that 
he possessed. He soon learned that glory 
on paper and in the field are two different and 
distinct things. He found men worthy of his 
steel in his enemies, and learned to respect 
the blades of others, if not their opinions. 

When the first sound of the shock of war 
reached his ear, he was a sergeant in K com- 
pany, 132nd JS'ew York volunteers, Col. P. J. 
Claassen commanding, and Capt. E. E. Fisk 
at the company's head. 

In the bloody fights that afterward took 
place this regiment made a record tor bravery 
that stamped it one of the most noted in the 
whole army, as its comrades of the second 
brigade, fifth division, 18th army corps, could 
well testify. Wherever duty called, and the 
most intrepid feats of courage were required 
to be displayed, there it was to be found 
breasting the terrible onslaughts of the des- 
perate enemy. Its many feats of daring chal- 
lenged the enthusiastic admiration of the gal- 
lant foe, and at the same time the envy of its 
less conspicuous friends. Its post was always 
where the stoutest hearts and coolest heads 
and strongest arms were needed; and the 
brave boys never murmured, always consider- 
ing that the greater the danger the more glo- 
rious the reward. Time and again it crossed 
bayonets with the enemy in the death strug- 
gle, and seldom came out of the frightful 



Gen, Ryan, 35 

struggles with trailing colors. Its trout was 
always menacing, intrepid, invincible, and its 
advances on the foe like the lightning's flash, 
and as destructive as the roaring, swelling, 
sweeping avalanche, or awful mountain flood. 

NINE TIMES WOUNDED. 

During Gen. Ryan's service with this reg- 
iment he was wounded nine times, one ot 
which was very serious, and came near caus- 
ing his death. It was a hip-joint wound. The 
hall had to be chisseled out' of the bone. He 
wore it as a charm on his watch chain. Up 
to the time of this dangerous wound, in Feb- 
ruary, 1864, he had participated in the first 
and second battles of Blackwater, West Ya. ; 
Suffolk, Ya. ; the second and third battles at 
IS'ewbern, JST. C. ; Little Washington, E". C. ; 
Kingston, N. C. ; Pallonksville, IST. C, and 
many others, as appears on the official records 
in Washington. 

PROMOTION. 

When in camp at E'ewbern, E". C, Decem- 
ber 1863, young Ryan was promoted to the 
enviable position ol Second Lieutenant of his 
company. This cheering intelligence was 
communicated to the gallant young soldier's 
sister, who was at school in Toronto, Canada, 
by Capt. ''Bob" Pisk, in the following ex- 
pressive language. After the usual prelimin- 



S6 Life of 

aries, the Captain seems "to take delight in 
saying: 

'^His papers have been forwarded to Gov. 
Seymour, of' 'New York. They are signed 
by his Captain, First Lieutenant, and every 
enlisted man ot the company; and indorsed 
by Colonel Claassen: cheerfully approved. 
Being in command of the company, I take it 
upon myself to transmit this most gratifying 
intelligence to his sister and family. His 
prospect of further promotion is very bright. 
It is with happy feelings that I testify to the 
upright and honorable conduct of your gal- 
lant brother. Nothing but intrinsic worth 
and high military ability could have procured 
for him his appointment." 

The gallant author of this manly tribute to 
the worth of a brave comrade is still living, 
away out in the wilds of Montana, editing the 
Herald, at Helena, one of the staunchest Re- 
publican journals in the west, and will take 
pleasure in remembering this extract. 

BATTLE OF NEWBERN, N. C. 

Special mention is made of this battle, be- 
cause of its terrific nature, and from the fact 
that in it Lieut. Ryan played a very promin- 
ent part, and nearly lost his hfe. At one 
time it was believed he had fallen dead at the 
head of his men, while breasting the awful 
storm of shot and shell hurled against his 



Gen. Ryan. 37 

line, and this report was flashed all over tlie 
country. 

In this fearful conflict the 132nd I^ew York 
was assigned a most important position ; and 
it might be said the one where the greatest 
danger was to be encountered, that ot the ex- 
treme outpost. 

The enemy came down like a whirlwind to 
to the attack, and swept, for a few moments, 
everything in their way. The contest was 
fearful and destructive, and lasted five hours. 
For a long time victory hung in doubt. At 
last it perched upon the Union arms, and 
crowned them with a halo of glory ; but at a 
great sacrifice of life. IS'ever before did the 
enemy display such courge ; their feats of 
daring being perfectly herculean. But they 
all proved abortive, and the heroic fellows 
had to fall back battered, bleeding and de- 
feated. 

SEVERELY WOUNDED. 

While the shocking carnage was going on 
Lieut. Ryan fell dangerously wounded at the 
head of his company, fiercely contesting the 
ground over which the Spartan armies met in 
the murderous shock. Thrice the enemy 
forced their way over his dead, as it was 
thought, body, and as often were hm-led back, 
until at last they had to give up the bloody 
strife. 



38 Life of 

In this terrible battle Lieut. Ktan was sta- 
tioned with G company on the most extreme 
outpost, where it required the coolest heads 
and most dauntless hearts to do a Spartan 
duty in holding the enemy at bay. The po- 
sition was a modern Thermopylae, and he was 
the Leonidas, with his gallant band, selected 
to hold the distinguished post of danger and 
honor. And well and faithfully did he do 
his duty. His dauntless leadership, and the 
pre-eminent courageousness of his men, con- 
tributed immeasurably in saving the Union 
arms from a demoralizing defeat. For his 
heroism he was advanced to the position of 
First Lieutenant, besides receiving the con- 
gratulations of his commanding officers, and 
the plaudits of the newspapers of the country. 

As the crash of battle was dying away, and 
the smoke of angry guns rolling off from the 
gory field, our young hero was taken from 
among the dead and mangled by a few of his 
intrepid followers and borne to a place of 
safety among his friends. 

For several months his life was despaired 
of while in hospital at [N'ewbern. At one 
time it was thought necessary for his life to 
amputate his leg at the hip joint, a thing he 
would not tolerate. Finally his great vitality 
and recuperative powers of body conquered 
every evil, and bid' defiance to death, and he 
soon returned to duty. 

In the meantime he had been removed to 



Gen. Byan. 39 

the Ladies' Home Hospital in ]^ew York. 

HIS GALLANTRY COMMUNICATED TO HIS SISTER. 

The bravery of Lieut. Ryan in the defense 
of Newbern can be better appreciated by a 
perusal of the subjoined extracts of letters. 

Capt. risk writes to Miss Ryan : 

u ^%^ j|. gives me infinite pleasure to record 
that in the late fierce engagement on the out- 
posts at IS'ewbern your brother greatly dis- 
tinguished himself as a brave, eflicient and 
daring officer. His gallant conduct on the 
momentous occasion has won for him that 
high praise and commendation which the true 
soldier so much covets, and which he often 
does not hesitate to lay down his life to 
obtain." 

The following is an extract from a letter 
of Geo. E. Bostwick, of H troop, 12th ^ew 
York cavaby, to P. Burke, St. Thomas, On- 
tario, Canada, Lieut. Ryan's uncle. The 
writer and the subject of the eulogy were 
school-fellows in their youth, and very much 
attached to each other : 

" * * * When the attack was made Lieut. 
Ryan was in command of his company, and 
on the most extreme of the outposts. He 
gallantly resisted the advance of a heavy body 
of rebels, and held them in check for five long 
hours. He was severely wounded, and saved 
from capture only through the cool, intrepid 



40 Life of 

daring of two of his brave men, who carried 
him oif the field under a scathing fire of the 
enemy. He is now in the officers' ward of 
Foster Hospital, Newbern. His conduct in 
the terrible confiict is spoken of by those who 
had a good opportunity of knowing as being 
fearless and heroic. He was everywhere in 
the thickest of the fight, encouraging his men 
to deeds of unexampled daring. At one time 
he severely repulsed several impetuous 
charges of a wdiole rebel brigade, and held 
them in check until he was reinforced, thereby 
saving our arms from a disastrous defeat. 
Your nephew is spoken of as the ' bravest of 
the brave, ' and I am proud to be able to tell 
you so." 

Lieut. Ryan's meritorious acts on this 
occasion called forth the unbounded applause 
of the general public. Even the rebel papers 
spoke of the "dauntless courage displayed 
by a handful of men in our front, the leader 
of whom was shot down bj our men, but not 
in time to give us victory." 

TEOUBLE AHEAD. 

Just so soon as our hero could be removed 
he was sent to New York. While in the 
Ladies' Home Hospital there he noticed quite 
a number of flagrant derelections of duty on 
the part of some of the officials. These he 
severely commented upon thi-ough the publiq 



Gen. Ryan, 41 

press. This had the eifect of drawing upon 
him the displeasure of Dr. Mott, the surgeon 
in charge, who preferred charges against him 
for conduct detrimental to the service. 

A court martial was convened before Capt. 
John Fritz, of the 93rd Pennsylvania volun- 
teers, as president. 

The result of this was the finding of tlie ac- 
cused guilty, and his subsequent dismissal 
from the service, with stoppage of all pay and 
allowances. 

But Mott's revenge was not of protracted 
duration. 

AT HIS grandmother's DEATH BED. 

"While the preliminaries of the court martial 
were going on, our hero was suddenly called 
to the death chamber of his grandmother in 
Toronto. He applied for, and received leave 
of absence to attend the solemn occasion, and 
arrived just in time to see her life flutter into 
eternity, and receive her parting kiss and 
blessing. 

As the tall, pale, war-worn young soldier 
entered the darkened chamber, he was imme- 
diately recognized by the helpless lady, over 
whose aged face stole a sweet smile as he 
reverentially stooped and kissed her pallid 
hps. His mother and sister were standing 
by and fondly embraced him, while big tears 
rolled down their cheeks. As the dying lady 



43 Life of 

kissed and blessed her gallant nephew, she 
feebly said : 

^'My child, have you your dear grand- 
father's medal with you % " 

On it being taken from his breast and pre- 
sented to her, she kissed it, then muttered a 
blessing upon those standing around ; a little 
sigh followed, and the spirit of the noble old 
lady flew to heaven and laid its acts of three 
score and six years at the feet of her blessed 
Redeemer. She was buried with Roman 
Catholic church rites, and placed in the same 
grave between her idolized son and much be- 
loved husband. 

HIS CANADIAN KECEPTION. 

While in Toronto our hero attracted consid- 
erable courteous attention from ' ' our Kanuck 
cousins," notwithstanding that the unpleas- 
ant shadow of the Trent affair still hung 
gloomily about them. ISTo matter where he 
went his bright blue, and gold epauletted uni- 
form and pale face attracted a bevy of joyous 
ladies and gentlemen, who left nothing un- 
done to make his short stay in the city of his 
birth pleasant. 

EEFERRING- TO PRESIDENT LINCOLN. 

On Lieut. Ryan's return to ISTew York the 
court martial held its session, with the result 



Gen, Ryan, 43 

before mentioned. It was a severe blow to 
the young hero, and aroused the just indig- 
nation of his friends. 

But he did not despair. Immediately he 
appealed to Governor Seymour of !N"ew York, 
who at once had the tacts laid before Presi- 
dent Lincoln, asking a reversal of the action 
of the court martial. 

In this the Governor was ably seconded by 
Senators Morgan and Harris, and Congress- 
men Darling and White, and General K. C. 
Hawkins, all of l!^ew York. This action was 
accompanied by a strong appeal from Col. P. 
J. Claassen and every officer and enlisted man 
of the gallant 132nd' JST. Y. 

In support of Lieut. PTAJtf's cause, and to 
show at what infamous hands he was suffer- 
ing. Gen. Hawkins, in a letter to Gen. Dix, 
said : 

"Dr. Mott is a most infernal scoundrel, 
and I am now obtaining such evidence against 
him that will astonish everyone." 

And in the same letter he continues : 

"Lieut. Kyan is a soldier and a gentleman 
well worthy your most favorable consider- 
ation." 

DISABILITIES REMOVED. 

Upon the representation, by Gov. Seymour 
and others, of all the points in the case, and 



44 Life of 

they having been carefully reviewed by Judge 
Advocate General Holt, President Lincoln 
'-' clieer fully removed'''' the disabilities re- 
ferred to, and the soldier who dared to pub- 
licly expose the misdeeds of his superiors in 
rank stepped from under the ignominious 
cloud they wished to throw over his fair name* 
free and untarnished, and victorious over the 
miscreants who desired to humble and dis- 
grace him. 

MADE A CAPTAIK. 

At this time Col. N. G. Axtell was com- 
pleting the organization of his regiment, the 
ll)2nd New York, at Albany. To this meri- 
torious officer Lieut. Ryan was introduced by 
Col. Geo. A. Buckingham, of the 52nd ISTew 
York, a gallant soldier. It was such dashing 
young officers as Eyan that Colonel Axtell 
wanted, and he gladly appointed him Captain 
of F company. The regiment was sent to 
duty as a portion of Hancock's celebrated 
Yeteran Corps. 

This promotion occurred a few months 
prior to the conclusion of the war, which 
glorious event put a stop to the fast develop- 
ing military renown of the brave soldier. 
Many distinguished officers have often been 
heard to say of him that all was necessary 
was a good field and a fair opportunity to 
make him one of the most dazzling lights in 
the galaxy of great military men. 



Gen. Ryan, 45 

His loss of military honors by the sudden 
collapse of war's terrible drama was a great 
national gain in which he gloried. 

THE END OF THE WAR. 

When the perfume of the flowers of May, 
1865, was being wafted from the icy fields of 
Vermont to the orange groves of the Gulf, 
the gloomy pall of desolating war was lifted 
from the nation and hurled into eternity, 
while the sun ot an undivided Union shone 
forth- with transcendent glory, throwing its 
lovely folds over the hideous scars of the 
bloody strife, and kissing the graves of the 
heroic and glorious unmonumenteddead, who 
fell that the Union might live. 

Four years of blood, and carnage, and 
misery was enough. Lee, Johnson, Beaure- 
gard, Dick Taylor, Price, E. Kirby Smith, 
Forrest, Early, Longstreet, Ewell and Bragg 
had struck their colors, and the Confederacy 
tumbled, to rise no more, and the glorious 
stars and stripes triumphantly floated over 
the miserable wreck. It went to its sleep 
of death upon a gory bed, while the flames 
of the Kebel capital threw a lurid glare over 
the ghastly ruins everywhere visible. The 
terrible strife was over, and the nation sent 
up a long, fervent prayer to God for His great 
mercy in crowning the Union arms with vic- 
tory and glory, and humbling to the earth 
those who wished to destroy the land. 



46 Life of 

It was a grand, a glorious victory; but 
one gained at an enormous cost of blood and 
treasure. 

Tlie rebels were terriblj in earnest, and it 
is only justice to say that never were such 
herculean efforts made by men fighting in a 
bad cause ; and the mystery is, and always 
will be, how they held out so long and fought 
so desperately. To say that they did not 
fight like Spartans would be doing them a 
grievous wrong, and materially detracting 
from the halo of glory that circled our tri- 
umphant arms. 

SWORD PRESENTATION. 

One of the last honors paid to Capt. Ryan 
before leaving the army was the presentation 
to him by his company of a magnificent 
sword, belt, pistol, sash and shoulder-straps. 
The blade was ot the finest Damascus steel, 
the hilt richly mounted in sivler, and beauti- 
fully finished, while the scabbard was of pure 
German silver, artistically carved. The 
blade was elegantly chased, and on it finely 
engraved : 

''Presented to Capt. W. A. C. Eyan, by 

the members of his company, F., 192nd N"ew 
York Yols., as a slight token of their high 
appreciation of him. March 28, 1865." , 

This took place in presence of a large con- 
course of officers and men, who heartily 



Gen, Ryan. 47 

clieered as the dashing, and battled-scarred 
young hero proudly buckled on the beautiful 
weapon and gracefully thanked his admirers 
for the handsome compliment. 

Thus ended the brilliant army career of one 
who had barely reached his majority ; a boy 
in years, but a full man in experience. A 
stranger in a strange land he had risen from 
youth's obscurity to a very enviable position 
as a military man, and to an exalted place in 
the estimation of the most influential men of 
the nation — at the head of the list being the 
murdered President, Lincoln, and the late 
Yice-President, Henry Wilson. Mr. Lincoln 
had no sincerer mourner than the gallant 
young Captain. 

TWO PICTUEES. 

Before the author there are two pictures of 
his hero — one in his United States Captain's 
dress, the other in Cuban attire, with a Gen- 
eral's stars adorning his shoulders. 

In the first he appears draj^ed in a long 
blue, single-breasted regulation coat and loose 
trowsers that set well upon his tall, elegant 
figure. His fine head is uncovered, and the 
luxuriant, dark hair cut close. His handsome 
face is thin, but his very regular features are 
calm, with the faintest smile playing about 
his perfectly shaped mouth, while his dark 
eyes glow with animated fire. A general 



48 Life of 

look of youth pervades his whole make-up, but 
it is of that jaunty, dashing nature character- 
istic of the proud, gallant, ambitious soldier 
who reveres honor and com' age. 

In the other, taken seven years later, con- 
siderable change is noticeable. Still there is. 
no mistaking the strikingly handsome face. 
He is resting in repose, apparently having 
just dismounted from his horse. He is sit- 
ting on a log, and withered shrubbery appears 
scattered aromid in profusion. His high- 
booted and spurred legs are stretched out, 
and across his knees rests his trusty sword. 
From his waist hang a pair of fine revolvers. 
His close fitting jacket is thrown carelessly 
back. A bright star shines on his breast, and 
three adorn each shoulder. A large som- 
brero hat rests upon his magnificent head, 
while a wealth of long, dark, curling hair 
falls gracefully on his broad shoulders. His 
fine ej^es are cast upon a map, and his beauti- 
ful lips are tightly compressed, as if in deep 
study, and a look ot anxiety pervades his 
bronzed face. Fronting on his slouched hat 
is a little wreath, and inside of it are two 
crossed swords, in the angles of which is the 
motto, in initials : 

^' First IsTew York Cavalry Cuban Liber- 
ators." 

In this likeness his symmetrical figure is 
fully developed, and he looks the dashing, 



Gen. Ryan, 49 

fearless cavalryman, the dauntless American 
Murat, tlie Patriot so loved by the Cubans, 
and feared and hated bj the savage Spanish 
butchers. 

HIS OPINION OF THE GKEAT OHARACTEBS OF 
THE AMERICAN REBELLION. 

As many will be curious to know General 
Ryan's estimate of the great lights of the Re- 
bellion, it will not be out of place to say that 
of the Union military leaders he ranked Gen. 
McClellan the most scientific, Sherman next, 
then Grant, McDowell, Mead, Rosecranz, 
Hancock, Thomas and Sheridan. His admir- 
ation tor Generals Kilpatrick, T. Francis 
Meagher, and the late noble martyr, the gay, 
dashing, fearless, handsome Custer, knew no 
bounds. And it appears that poor Custer 
had a high opinion of the Cuban martyr. 

Of the Rebels he commenced with Gen. 
Robert E. Lee, then the dead Albert Sidney 
and Joseph E. Johnston, Beauregard, Stone- 
wall Jackson, Longstreet, Price, Dick Taylor, 
J. E. B. Stuart and Forrest, and Arkansas' 
immortal Irishman, the gallant dead hero. 
Lieutenant General Pat. Cleburn. Admirals 
Farragut and Porter were among his idols, 
and he could not help but admire the rakish 
rebel rover Semmes. He also held in high 
esteem the great raider, John Morgan, of 
Kentucky, and ever deprecated his dastardly 



50 Life of 

murder wlien a prisoner. Facts in this case 
he learned from the dashing rebel cavalry- 
man, Col. Geo. Forrester, of Kentucky, who 
was with Morgan. 

Of the civil leaders he lifted the lamented 
President Lincoln to the most exalted posi- 
tion, but he never failed to acknowledge Mr. 
Jeiferson Davis as possessed of extraordinary 
abilities. He never allowed the cloud of his 
treason to obscure his brilhant record in the 
Mexican war, nor his able services in the na- 
tional Senate, and as Secretary of War. 
And his noble heart could not help but beat 
with sympathy for the distress and misery ot 
the South when her flag was struck and her 
rebel heart was humbled, bleeding and re- 
pentant. 

FENIANISM. 

It has been a subject of wonder with the 
general public why Gen. Ryan was not iden- 
tified with the Fenian movement in 1866, 
fresh as he was from the smoke and crash of 
battle, and the cause being so much in need 
of such able services. The reason is easily 
told. In the first place, immediately after the 
war he made business arrangements to go to 
Montana territory, the breaking of which 
would heavily involve him, and some friends, 
pecuniarily ; and in the second place, he be- 
lieved that the time had not arrived to strke 



Gen, Ryan, 51 

tlie blow for Ireland's freedom. He consid- 
ered tliat the great barrier to lier emancipa- 
tion from British thraldom existed religiously, 
in dissensions between the Roman Catholic 
and Protestant chnrches, and that not until 
this black line was erased, and Irishmen could 
meet as brothers, united body and soul for 
their country's freedom, then, and not until 
then might she hope to be free. He consid- 
ered this clearing away of religious animosi- 
ties, aye hatreds, the first graad step to suc- 
cess. Until this was eifected he believed all 
attempts at throwing off the iron yoke would 
be futile and disastrous. 

This view he freely expressed to General 
McMahon and Colonel Byron, of Rew York; 
Colonel John F. Finnerty and Major W. C. 
McClure, of Chicago, and the late Capt. P. 
C. Shannon, of Toledo, Ohio, as stanch sons 
of old Ireland as ever took an oath to see her 
again free and independent, as of yore. 

IsTo man more loved the land ot his fathers 
than General Pyan, and it may be safely said 
that he was ready to draw his sword in her 
defense when the proper time arrived to strike 
down the tyrants trampling upon her dearest 
liberties, and he firmly believed that but a 
few years would elapse until she could take 
her place among the nations of the earth. 



62 Life of 



BOOK III. 

OUT IN THE FAR WEST MONTANA, ETC. 

When the dancing, feasting, and pleasure 
following victory, and the death of the mons- 
ter rebellion, were over, and shoulder- 
straps, gay uniforms, and keen blades were 
carefully laid aside, as mementoes of the ter- 
rible struggle, our hero cast his eyes west- 
ward, and determined to try his fortunes in 
the mines of Montana. 

About this time Col. James L. Fisk, before 
mentioned as one of Capt. Kyan's army com- 
rades, was organizing an expedition to settle 
in Montana, and was to leave from St. Cloud, 
Minnesota. Ryan determined to accompany 
the party, and was gladly enrolled by Col. 
Fisk, because it was such material as he was 
made of that was necessary to combat any at- 
tack of savages that might be made on the 
train. The expedition was to start the first 
of August, 1865. 

On account of some negotiations going on 
between the government and the Indians the 
expedition was postponed until May, 1866. 

NEARLY A FATAL HUNT. 

By way of killing time, until the starting 
of the expedition, which now was to be from 



Gen. Ryan, 63 

St. Paul, Capt. Eyan and his old army 
friend, Capt. John W. Fenton, went on a 
hunting ''frolic" into the wilds of Minne- 
sota, during which they experienced terrible 
sufferings. 

One night, in a blinding snow storm, they 
lost their horses. They were now two hun- 
dred miles from civilization. The storm 
lasted three days, and the weather was very 
cold. Not a living thing seemed to occupy 
the desolate waste of ice and snow but them- 
selves and Ryan's splendid Newfoundland 
dog Monte. The intense cold had frozen the 
feet of Capt. Fenton, and death stared them 
in the face. In this shocking situation Capt. 
Fenton struck on an expedient that proved 
their salvation. He advised his companion 
to write a note telling their situation, tie it to 
the dog's neck and send liim out to hunt iip 
friends. This was done, and the faithful 
animal started on his important mission, ap- 
parently knowing what was required of him. 
He had not been gone five minutes w^hen the 
stillness ot the awful solitude was broken by 
the sharp crack of a rifle. This was unex- 
pected and startling, and Ryan thought his 
dog was the victim. Cautiously scanning 
the wide carpet of snow he detected a stal- 
wart Indian about two hundred yards away, 
moving at a right angle to his position. 
Carefully training his rifle he fired, and the 
child of the forset was sent to other hunting 



54r Life of 

grounds. It was discovered that the savage 
had shot a fox instead of Monte, much to the 
joy of Capt. Eyan. The rifle and ammuni- 
tion of the Indian were taken possession ot 
and the body buried beneath the snow. The 
fox, a good fat one, afforded food for the two 
famishing, snow-bound adventurers. 

Monte had found friends, and on the fifth 
day a body of United States Cavalry rescued 
the unfortunates from a terrible death. But 
Captain Fenton's feet were so badly frozen 
that the forepart of tliem had to be amputated. 
However, now he walks around Washington 
apparently unharmed. 

The trip was tatal to the faithful dog. The 
cavalry mistook him for a wolf and shot him, 
from the effects of which the poor brute died. 
When the men went to take his ''brush " the 
note was found tied to his collar. 

Capt. Ryan was very much grieved at poor 
Monte' s death. 



THE EXPEDITION KYAN NEARLY HANGED. 

The expedition left St. Paul on the 5th of 
May, 1866, and arrived at Helena, Montana, 
in September. It numbered about 500 men, 
women and children. The pleasure of the 
trip was occasionally marred by little skir- 
mishes with Indians, but none were of a seri- 
ous nature. It was mere amusement for the 
men, most of whom had smelt powder during 



Gen. Ryan, 55 

tlie "unpleasantness" between the States. 

One incident occurred on the route that 
came near ending Ryan's days. He was ap- 
pointed officer of the expedition, and as such 
enforced army discipline, a fact that made 
him obnoxious to a few discontented spirits. 
These became exasperated and formed a plot 
to effectually get rid of the objectionable 
character. They were a portion of the men 
recruited from Missouri and Kansas, and who, 
it afterward appeared, were ex-members of 
the Rebel QuantrelPs guerilla band of cut- 
throats. Ryan was made aware of his pre- 
carious situation by a young girl who acci- 
dentally overheard the murderous scheme. 
The facts were laid before Colonels James L. 
and R. E. Fisk, Capt. Fenton, and a few 
other tried friends, and measures were at once 
taken to make it hot for the outlaws, should 
they attempt to carry out their infamous plot. 
One evening, shortly after the expedition had 
halted for the night, and while Ryan's trusty 
friends were scouting around for game, the 
bandits suddenly pounced upon their intended 
victim, before he could draw his 'pistol, hur- 
riedly pinioned his arms, ran a rope around 
his neck, and started for the nearest tree. 

While the desperadoes were engaged in 
these preliminaries, the young heroine before 
referred to mounted her horse and sped off in 
search ot the absent friends, while the entire 
camp was becoming aroused by the startling 



56 Life of 

drama. Fortunately she soon found them. 

Then a race for life took place. 

In a very few minutes the rescuers arrived, 
headed by the little Joan of Arc, and just in 
time to save the condemned, who was calmly 
standing beneath the limb of a tree, over 
which was hanging the rope, while the ex- 
cited camp surged madly around him. 

Ryan's friends dashed among the outlaws, 
pistol in hand, and demanded the cause of the 
outrage ; and quick as a flash the brave girl 
leaped from her horse, ran to the prisoner, 
and in a second severed his bonds with a 
keen-edged stiletto she drew from the folds of 
her dress, it and a fine pistol being presents 
from Capt. E-yan, and the use of which he 
had taught her. 

When free the gallant Captain took his fair 
preserver's hand, bent low over it, and kissed 
away its excited tremblings, now that 
the dread picture was passing away, while 
the whole camp, save the abashed would-be 
murderers, set up a prolonged cheer, that 
swept musically over the wide expanse of un- 
inhabited prairie, and echoed back that the 
young girl was a true heroine. 

It was all that Capt. Eyan and his friends 
could do to keep the orderly members of the 
camp from lynching the outlaws, who escaped 
during the night, leaving a note stating that 
it was their intention to do away with Eyan, 



Gen. Ryan. 67 

the Fisks and Capt. Fenton, then rob the 
train and desert. 

Ko, gentle reader, the love between the 
sweet girl and the dashing young Captain, 
was only Platonic, and the romance will have 
to rest there. She was on her way to Helena 
to marry the object of her heart. 

eyan's success. 

Capt. Rtaiis^ was among the few of the ex- 
pedition who were particularly lucky. Some- 
how fortune smiled on him, and he " struck a 
streak" that ''panned out" well, and soon 
he was numbered among the wealthy gold, 
silver and copper property-holders in the ter- 
ritory. The few thousand dollars he brought 
with him had been invested judiciously, and 
his pecuniary future looked bright. 

On arrival in Helena, Col. ''Bob" Fisk 
and Ma,]or Stewart established the Herald^ 
the only Republican paper in the territory. 
The Gazette^ a rebelized Democratic journal, 
was "ruling the ranche," and shaping public 
opinion. Capt. E-yai^^ indirectly associated 
himself with the Fisk paper, being a stanch 
Kepublican. 

The political war now commenced in good 
earnest. But the new paper kept its banner 
flying in the face of Democratic threats, and 
bade defiance to the enemies of Republican 
reform. 



58 Life of 

In this struggle for a good foothold of the 
party many personal skirmishes took place 
between the "yonng Irish Eepublican," as 
our hero was called, and the leaders of the 
dominant Democracy who had been in the 
habit of controlling others at the muzzle of a 
pistol, or the glittering point of the formid- 
able Bowie. In these renconters he taught 
the Democratic desperadoes that to "jump 
his claim ' ' was instant death. 

A TRIP TO NEW YORK. 

Capt. Ryan's mining property having ac- 
cumulated so rapidly he determined to go 
East and dispose of some of it, that he could 
the better develop the rest. 

In May, 1867, he left the golden regions 
beyond the Rocky Mountains, passed by the 
grand scenes of the Yellowstone, rested for 
awhile in lovely Salt Lake City, supped with 
Brigham Young, floated down the turgid and 
snaggy Missouri, luxuriated for a day in St. 
Louis, passed to the Garden City, Chicago, 
and revelled for an hour in her sumptuous 
retreats, and had a delightful reunion with 
his loving mother and sister, the first since 
the meeting in the death chamber of his 
grandmother ; then a hurried ride to the 
Empire City, where he sought repose under 
the sheltering wing of the courteous Leland's 
in the palatial Metropolitan Hotel, on Broad- 
way. 



Gen, Ryan, 59 

On his arrival in ISTew York lie learned by 
the papers that his brother J. G. was in 
Washington, looking after his ''false im- 
prisonment case, " and had been tangled up 
in a very-near-sEiooting difficulty, a not un- 
usual thing where the "wild Arkansan's" 
rights were trespassed upon. Immediately he 
telegraphed him at the Kirkwood House, on 
Pennsylvania avenue — the hotel made famous 
by being the place where Andrew Johnson 
was informed that Lincoln had been brutally 
murdered, and that he was President of the 
United States — to join him without delay. 

The telegram was a surprise to Jack, who 
answered back O. K. After calling on the 
President, visiting the Capitol, the Smithson- 
ian Institute, the parks, gardens. Treasury 
building, and generally ''doing" the "city 
of magnificent distances," including a look 
at John H. Surrat, then on trial, and a peep 
at the Old Capitol Prison, that was being 
demolished, he hastened to IS'ew York, where 
he arrived the evening of June 12th, and was 
soon enjoying and Arkansas "rooster's narra- 
tive" — straight whisky — at the Metropolitan. 

On his arrival he learned that W. A. C. 
would not be in until 11:30 that night, so 
rambled into Mblo's Gardens to witness the 
Black Crook, that many-legged drama that 
became such a target for the moral anathemas 
of some pulpit orators, who took good care to 
visit the play, that they might the better ex- 



60 Life of 

patiate upon its "demoralizing tendencies, 
and immodest features." 

This over, he returned to the pleasures oi 
his room, to await the coming of him he had 
not seen for many years. 

MEETING OF THE BROTHERS. 

When the clock had marked that it was 
nearly twelve, a knock was heard at Jack's 
door. 

"Come," answered he. 

At this invitation, in stepped a tall, dash- 
ing, splendid-looking young lellow, whose 
broad-brimmed slouch hat cast a dim shadow 
over his extremely handsome face. 

"Beg pardon, is this Capt. J. G. Kyan's 
room? " inquired the person. 

"It is." 

"Can I see him?" 

"Certainly, sir; that is, if you will cast 
your cerulean orbs in the direction ot the an- 
atomy standing: before you," said our Ar- 
kansas traveler holding out his hand. He 
had recognized Will at first, notwithstand- 
ing the many changes of their long separa- 
tion. 

"What!" excitedly exclaimed Will, step- 
ping forward and grasping the extended hand ; 
"is it possible this is you Jack ? " 

"Fact ; all that you Yanks left of me." 



Gen. Ryan, 61 

It is needless to say that the meeting was 
affectionate and happy, for the brothers were 
very dear to each other. 

As the surprise was over Jack "rang up " 
a conple of refreshing juleps, over which 
they discussed the subject of their long sepa- 
ration, and the many romantic adventures 
each had passed through. 

"Yes, Jack," said Will, "it is twelve 
years since that gloomy night when you 
left your mark upon that unfortunate man. 
And mother still lives with him. Strange ! 
Well, if there ever was a martyr, she is one, 
and Saint Peter will not hesitate to open the 
gates of heaven to her when she knocks for 
admittance. I had the happiness of seeing 
her and sister in Chicago on my route here. 
They inquired affectionately for you. I 
see you have taken after the Burkes in stat- 
ure. Five feet eight, aye ; well, I thoughty ou 
would have been taller. Sorry you were on 
the losing side in the late war." 

"So am I," chimed in Jack, with a smile 
that meant he was sorry his side had been so 
unfortunate. 

"Your side made a terrible fight," con- 
tinued Will. "You must have been fearfully 
in earnest. The world never before witnessed 
such heroism." 

"Yes," responded Jack, "my people, as 
you say, were fearfully in earnest. We all 



62 Life of 

were soldiers, both men and boys; and the 
women, old and 3^oung, did a Spartan duty 
in favor of the cause, and if ever I write a 
book they shall see justice done their noble 
deeds." 

"What you say of the ladies is true," 
said Will; ''but give up your combustible 
writing ; that YincUcator of yours is as bitter 
as gall and hot as caustic. Yoq must cool 
off and become reconstructed." 

" If I were a profane person I would say 
recon-h — 1," replied Jack. "Why, sir, if 
you had been treated with one-tenth the 
harshness our people have by your radical 
carpet-bag reconstructionists, but ^«iore cor- 
rectly speaking, thieves and scums of Chris- 
tendom, you would start a first-class grave- 
yard every day. We laid down our arms in 
good faith, and ever since have been trying to 
get along quietly, but your villainous carpet- 
baggers will not let us rest. If I had my 
way I would give his satanic majesty a chance 
to reconstruct tliem.^'' 

"Don't you speak from personal feeling, 
because of the ill-treatment that you received 
while in gloomy prisons, supposed to have 
been mixed up with the assassination of good 
President Lincoln? " 

"]^o, sir," replied Jack; "I speak for 
the whole country." 

" Well, we won't quarrel over the matter," 



Gen. Ryan, 63 

said Will. " Let us change the subject and 
have these glasses replenished. I rarely 
ever touch the second glass, but as this is a 
rare occasion I will overstep mj rule." 

The string was again pulled, and soon a 
son of Ham ushered in the "cool comfort." 

"Yes, Jack, I like Montana very mucli, 
notwithstanding its rough society. But this 
will soon wear away. I look forward to the 
near day when she will be one of the bright- 
est stars in our glorious confederation of 
states. Her resources are many, and her hid- 
den wealth far beyond one's wildest imagina- 
tion. Of course the troublesome Indians on 
her borders will have to be civilized with the 
bullet, and railroads established, before the 
territory will amount to much. I do not 
know how long I will reside there ; probably 
lorever. What's your programme ? Law 
and literature, aye. Well such a life would 
not suit me, unless it could be attended to on 
horseback. I like not to be housed up. I 
love the out-door air, bright landscapes, blue 
skies, sweet flowers and the joyous songs of 
innocent birds. Youth will soon pass away 
before the frosts of age, and while sunshine 
lasts I mean to enjoy it practically, not in im- 
agination as do most ol you literary dream- 
ers." 

" I would like such a life myself," replied 
Jack, "but the fortunes of war dispelled my 



64: Life of 

bright picture for the future, and I look for- 
ward to nothing but hard toil. Life is all a 
farce, anyway, and I care not how soon I go 
down the dark valley." 

''I^onsense. my boy; let your motto be 
uil desperandum. Throw trouble over your 
shoulder, bid defiance to trouble, start out 
anew, and drink of pleasure's cup whenever 
the Cyprian goddess smiles. Life is too short 
to sigh for disappointed hopes. Let it always 
be with you dum vivimus vivamus. ^ There 
are sunny spots where men may dwell.' Pick 
them out, and let the icy breath of discontent 
blow in other regions. There is less danger 
attached to this than in such desperate 
charges as you Confeds made at Corinth in 
October, 1862." 

'' Yes," answered Jack, '4t all looks nice 



>) 



on paper, 

Thus chatted the boys, and the night had 
trespassed far into the morning before they 
retired to rest. 

The stay in New York city was short, but 
pleasant. After the General had effected his 
financial arrangements satisfactorily, he. Jack 
and Capt. Dan. W. Fisk, took a trip up the 
Hudson, and to Niagara Falls, where they 
tarried a lew days as the guests of that ele- 
gant gentleman, Col. John Fisk, and his 
truly attractive family. 



Gen. Ryan, 65 

BACK TO MONTANA. 

June 24tli, 1867, the brothers separated, 
Will and Capt. Fisk going to Montana, and 
Jack taking a pleasiu-e trip down the St. Law- 
rence to Montreal. While in Canada he got 
up entertainments for the Southern Hospital 
Association in JS'ew Orleans, his authority 
coming from General Dabney H. Maurj. 
Although his mission was not a pecuniary 
success, still he was warmly received, as a 
Southerner, by the Canadians. He had the 
pleasure of meeting in Montreal, Toronto and 
JN"iagara town, President Davis and family, 
and his brothers-in-law Col. ''Bill," Jeff., 
and — Howell, Dr. Luke P. Blackburn, of 
Kentucky ; Hon. John — Mason, of the 
steamer Trent affair ; Gen. Carroll, ofTenn.; 
and many other distinguished Rebels. When 
on this mission of charity. Col. E-yan says 
that while the churches merely "recommend- 
ed" the object, the theatrical profession un- 
animously gave their services free. This was 
notably the case with the Myers troop from 
Rochester, IN". Y., playing at Toronto. Mr. 
Myers, and his beautiful daughter Flora, be- 
ing "Yankees," a cheering evidence that 
noble hearts still beat in JSTorthern breasts for 
their suffering Southern sisters. 

En route West General Ryan again had the 
pleasure of meeting his loving mother at the 
Sherman house, Chicago. The strongest 
bonds of affection existed between the parent 

BB 



66 Life of 

and her dear son. She fondly worshipped 
her darling, and he returned her love with a 
warmth becoming his noble, impetuous na- 
ture. ]S[o more respectful, obedient, and lov- 
ing man or boy ever existed, and it is told of 
him by his sorrowing mother, that in his 
youth he never retired to bed without offering 
up prayers to God, and embracing her with 
kisses. 

AGAIN IN THE GOLD REGIONS. 

On Gen. Ryan's return to Helena, he and 
Col. W. S. Scribner, late Secretary of Mon- 
tana under Gov. Thomas Francis Meagher, 
and acting Governor after that distinguished 
gentleman's sad death, established a much 
needed "quartz mining bureau and real 
estate agency;" its main object being the 
giving of permanent form and intelh'gent di- 
rection to all mining matters. The most 
scientific men in the several mineral depart- 
ments were employed, and Prof Aug. Steitz, 
ot the First National Bank, M^as engaged as 
assay er. In this institution the buyer and. 
seller had equal facilities for gaining accurate 
information. A fine reading room, parlors, 
and other attractions made the establishment 
the grand bourse of the territory. Among 
those who patronized it were Governor Green 
Clay Smith, Hon. W. F. Sanders, The First 
JS'atioiial Bank, Gen. Neil Howie, Gen. Sol. 
Meredith, all of Montana ; Hon. James M. 



Gen. Ryan, 67 

Cavanaiigh, Washington, D. C. ; TJ. S. Sen- 
ator Ira Harris, Kew York; Gov. Lucius 
Fairchild, and Hon. Thomas Reynolds, of 
Wisconsin. 

Business poured in from the start, and con- 
tinued favorable, until the proprietors had 
made their " pile," and sold out in 1869. 

In August, 1868, Gen. Ryan again visited 
IS'ew York, Philadelphia, Boston, and other 
cities, in the interest of Montana, and dis- 
posed of a large quantity of valuable mining 
property, belonging to himself and others, 
to good advantage. 



Gen. Ryan and the dashing leader of the 
gallant . Irish Biigade were strong friends, 
and it will not be out of place to here correct 
the infamous slander that the illustrious Irish- 
American was a ' ' drunken suicide. " It is a 
fact that the boat on which was the Gover- 
nor, while going up the Missouri river, had a 
portion of her cabin guards knocked away — 
just in front of the General's stateroom. The 
was night dark. It being rather warm in the 
cabin the Governor stepped out on the guard 
to catch the breeze. It is supposed he never 
thought of the destroyed railing, and that 
while he was feeling for it in the gloom he 
fell overboard and was drowned. His body 
was never recovered. This statement was 



68 Life of 

made to the author by several gentlemen of 
Washington, Capt. John W. Fenton, he be- 
lieves, being one. 

And an item to the same effect is found 
in Gen. Ryan's diary. 

Ryan's Montana trouble's. 

By some unlooked for streak of fortune, 
Eyan and Chas. W. Sears discovered that the 
finest-built-up section of the city of Helena 
had not been entered in the land office accord- 
ing to law, and thereupon immediately took 
steps to "jump" it in their own names. 
"When the occupiers of the property became 
aware of this fact, their astonishment was 
great, and can be more easily imagined than 
described. A meeting of all concerned was 
held, and the greatest excitement prevailed. 
Threats were freely made to appeal to Judge 
Lynch, as the easiest way of settling the mat- 
ter ; and at one time it looked '' kinder dark 
for the boys." ^Nevertheless, the startling 
fact stared the property owners square in the 
face til at their valuable improvements be- 
longed to two keen speculators. But not- 
withstanding their good fortune things looked 
decidedly blue for the latter. They could not 
help involuntarily putting their hands to their 
necks, and jumping up, to see if they were 
still on terra firma. Finally the matter went 
into court, and Ryan and Sears came out the 



Gen. Ryan. 69 

victors. But the ''hanging" pressure was 
so great against them that they had to com- 
promise with the original owners, by which 
thej received good titles. 

It was generally conceded that if this set- 
tlement had not taken place the exasperated 
people would have coolly and deliberately 
strung up the obnoxious individuals. 

OUTLAWRY. 

Prior to 1866 life in Montana was very pre- 
carious. Bands of desperadoes infested the 
mines and raided the settlements, and caused 
a reign of terror to exist. Horrible murders 
and highway robberies were of such frequent 
occurrence that no one considered himself 
safe. In 1864 these outlaws were banded 
into an organization called the "- Road 
Agents." They murdered, robbed, and out- 
raged indiscriminately. 

Among the most noted of these scoundrels 
were Henry Plummer, Charley Beeves, — — 

Moore, and Skinner. They took the 

Montana fever while in Oregon, and at once 
rushed to the new Eldorado, and pitched their 
tents in Bannock City. Between there and 
Virginia City they operated, while their in- 
famous gang daily increased in numbers. At 
one time it was hard to find an honest man in 
this region. The outlaws were a regular ter- 
ror, and none but the stoutest hearts dare dis- 



70 Life of 

pute their right to do as they pleased. Tliey 
were splendidly armed, and mounted on the 
fleetest horses. When they dashed upon the 
unsuspecting traveler, and shouted from he- 
hind their masks : 

'' Halt, hold up your hands," 

The demand was, it is needless to say, im- 
mediately complied with, the party attacked 
feeling grateful if they spared his life after 
robbing him. 

THE VIGILANTES. 

These outrages became so glaring that the 
good citizens secretly organized themselves 
into a Yigilance Committee and commenced a 
war of extermination upon the cut-throats. 
By the capture and confession of two of the 
murderers, the names of the , whole gang 
were discovered. These two were Erastus 
Yager and E. Ked, whom the Yigilantes sub- 
sequently hung in the Stinking-water Yalley. 
Through these it was learned that the gang 
numbered fifty. 

In six months after th^ Yigilantes com- 
menced operating the band was entirely 
broken up, and nearly annihilated. 

Of the entire gang J. A. Slade, Henry 
Plummer, Boone Helm, Geo. Ives, Bill Bun- 
ton and Cyrus Skinner, were considered the 
most blood-thirsty. Their motto was : 

" Dead men tell no tales." 



Gen. Ryan. 11 

They all died with their boots on. 
It was not until about ISTO that all of this 
terrible tribe were extirpated. 

KTAN A^D PARTISANSHIP. 

On account of his strong Republican prin- 
ciples " Whack " Ryan, as he was familiarly 
called in the mountains, became very obnoxi- 
ous to the Rebel-Democratic element in Mon- 
tana, who took every opportunity to cast slurs 
upon him. But he was always splendidly 
'^ heeled," that is, well armed, and ready 
for "business." 

One day a fellow calling himself " Colonel 
Bill Granger, by Gawd, sir," and beheved to 
have been one of QuantrelFs guerillas during 
the Rabellion, "waltzed " up to him, while 
he was in conversation with some gentlemen, 
in Alder Gulch, and commenced using offen- 
sive language, with the intention of creating 
a disturbance, keeping his hand on his pistol 
all the time. At last he staggered against 
Whack. 

That movement gave a physician a fee." 

Quick as a flash Ryan drew his heavy re- 
volver and struck the miscreant a blow that 
knocked him senseless to the ground, where 
he lay, until carried off by some miners 
to a ranche, where his skull was dressed. 

Afterward the bully apologized to Whack, 
who returned him his pistol. 



72 Life of 

Several other siicli difficulties elevated our 
hero considerably in the estimation of the 
desperadoes. But he had a number of nar- 
row escapes from death. 

As to duels, and being engaged as second 
in affairs of honor, he figured frequently and 
conspicuously; always coming out of them 
uutarnished for courage, and the justness of 
his cause. 

His most celebrated difficulty was with 
Geo. M. Pinney, a banker of Helena, and at 
one time an influential member of the Repub- 
lican party. This Pinney had the audacity to 
break open a sealed package deposited in his 
bank by Gen. Ryan. Because of this base 
treachery. Whack had him branded as a 
scoundrel. Pinney tried the intimidation 
game; but it would not work, and he had to 
'^crawfish" in a very humble manner. 

ISTow, in 1876, this same Pinney is a refti- 
gee from justice, having defrauded the United 
States government out of a large amount of 
money, and fled the country, a circumstance 
that sustains Gen. Ryan's assertion that he 
was a thief and a scoundrel. 

Judge May and Colonel W. Woolfelk, of 
Helena, had a little spat one day. The for- 
mer not receiving a prompt apology, at once 
sent a challenge by Whack. At first the 
Colonel demurred, but finally apologized, 
sooner than see himself posted around the 



Gen. Ryan, T3 

streets as a coward, scoundrel, and mean pal- 
troon. 

Among Montana's "upper crust" the in- 
exorable " code" was the great court of ap- 
peals to settle the most trivial infractions of 
right or honor. 

In General Kyan's diary is the following 
entry, July 6, 1868 : 

''Pulled Deslock's nose this eve. for his 
impertinence, and saved Chas. W. Sears' life 
from being taken by a gambler. I got the 
'drop ' on him first." 

Tlie "drop" means covering the enemy 
with your pistol before he has time to draw 
his weapon. 

Another entry, July 16, 1868, reads : 

"Colonel Chestnut insulted me. I gave 
him a chance to send a challenge. I accepted 
it. When on the ground he declined becom- 
ing an angel. Glad of it, for he is a fine 
shot, and I might have went up." 

Another : 

" July 31, 1868.— Difficulty to-day in court 
between Col. Woolfalk and Judge Chinsen. 
The Colonel slapped the Judge in the face, 
and broke his cane over his head. Judge 
Munson ordered the Colonel to jail for con- 
tempt. ISTo officer would execute the man- 
date." , 

These items are introduced to show the 



T4: Life of 

^'delightful" state ot society in the far 
West. But such little episodes were scarcely 
noticed by the denizens of that oriferous re- 
gion, for nearly every man could point to his 
private graveyard. 

That the reader may not imagine that Gen. 
Ryan was easily led into these serious difficul- 
ties, but acted at all times in self-defense, the 
following circumstance is introduced, which 
is one out of thousands : 

After the conclusion of the Rebellion, Gen. 
Martin Beem, of Chicago, whose health had 
been considerably injured by Rebel bullets, 
went West to enjoy the revivifying air of the 
mountains. No more quiet or less aggressive 
gentleman ever existed. One day, while en- 
joying a siesta on a rude bench in one of the 
"hotels" in Yirginia City, Montana's late 
capital, his peace was suddenly interrupted by 
an unconth animal belted with heavy pistols 
and a huge Bowie, who began profanely 
announcing that he could cut the heart out of 
any d — d Yankee in the diggings, at the 
same time driving his knife into the counter 
and calling to the barkeeper to "dish up 
some more good licker." After thus stirring 
up his courage, he commenced indirectly ad- 
dressing insults to General Beem, whose 
army record and Republican politics he had 
learned from the hotel clerk. The General 
knew that a man's life was not worth much 
in the estimation of the blackguard, so began 



Gen. Byan. 75 

to quietly get into position to resist an attack. 
He had a splendid Smith & Wesson pistol 
easily accessible. At last the storm com- 
menced, by the ruffian approaching the Gen- 
eral in a threatening attitude, with his glit- 
tering Bowie held firmly in his hand. 

Like the lightning's flash, the feeble Gen- 
eral drew his revolver and presented it at 
the rascal's head, telKng him that another step 
would be his last. 

''Stranger," said the miscreant, "you 
have the age on me; let's compromise and 
licker. You've got it to say that you're the 
only man that ever got the drop on Caj). Bled- 
soe. I'm yer friend hereafter. Shake." 

The General considered it politic to shake, 
but would not "licker," because he never 
indulged in intoxicating beverages. 

This individual was the terror of the 
mines, and started a graveyard wherever he 
went. 

At last he received his desserts. The 
brother of one of his victims coolly blew his 
brains out in Diamond City, without giving 
him a second's warning. 

This was the class of characters General 
Ryan had mostly to contend with. 

FIGHTING SITTING BULL. 

As this notorious savage has become so in- 
famously celebrated by his massacre of the 



Y6 Life of 

gallant General Custer and his noble band, 
(last June, 1867), it may not be out of place 
to state that General Ryan fought against 
him on several occasions. In 1868 Sitting 
Bull made a number of raids into the white 
settlements of Montana, and the Governor 
had to call out volunteers to protect the 
people. Ryan was one of the first to tender 
his services. The Indians were defeated in 
every battle, and nearly annihilated in Galla- 
tin Yalley. There they were drawn into an 
ambush and literally cut to pieces. General 
Ryan was one of the squad that decoyed the 
red devils into the vortex of death. 

This summary punishment ot the savages 
was at the time strongly censured by a number 
of Washington peace-policy fogies, and stig- 
matized as a terrible massacre. 

Spirits of the murdered Generals Canby 
and Custer, and their martyred followers, 
awake, and call down heaven's lightning up- 
on all such conservers of the peace, that they 
may be smote into oblivion. 

THE TJ. S. MARSHALSHIP. 

When General Ryan returned from his 
Eastern trip, in the fall of 1868, his friends 
induced him to become a candidate for the 
office of United States Marshal of Montana, 
soon to be vacant by the expiration of Gen. 
ISTei] Howie's term. He was considered the 



Gen. Ryan, 77 

most suitable person that the Eepublicans, as 
a party, could present to the President for 
his nomination to the position. No man was 
better qualified to discharge the onerous and 
hazardous duties of the office successfully. 
He possessed all "the grand requisites, hon- 
esty, integrity, acumen, quick perception, ad- 
ministrative and executive ability, and cool, 
invincible courage, a thing absolutely neces- 
sary to enable an officer to faithfully discharge 
his duties among desperadoes who cared 
nothing for Hfe. 

However, other parties became candidates, 
and Gen. Howie intended making an effort 
to retain his position. In this he was ably 
backed by the recreant banker Pinney. 

AT THE NATIONAX CAPITAIi. 

When March, 1869, arrived, the time for 
"log-rolling" had come around, and the 
several aspirants for the marshalship, and 
their triends, hurried to Washington. Among 
those who accompanied General Etan were 
Colonels W. S. Scribner, R. E. and James L. 
Eisk, and Capt. John W. Fenton. 

A heavy pressure was brought against 
Howie by most of the Montana Republican 
Central Committee, because of his being led 
by Pinney, whom they denounced to Presi- 
dent Grant as unscrupulous and dishonest, 
and who was manipulating the office of U. S. 



7S Life of 

marslial for his own venal aggrandizement, 
and to the detriment of the Republican party. 

General Ryan's name went to the Presi- 
dent strongly recommended by Hon. Green 
Clay Smith, Governor of Montana ; the late 
Yice-President. Hon. Henry Wilson ; United 
States Senators R. E. Fenton, T. O. Howe, 
Matt. H. Carpenter, — . J. Robertson, and 
— . L. Fowler ; and by Representatives Gen. 
B. F. Butler, C. C. Washburne, W. A. 
Wheeler, now, in 1876, candidate for Yice- 
President on the Republican ticket; I. But- 
fins^ton, A. H. Jones, B. F. Hopkins and R. 
W. Butler> And this extremely flattering 
array of indorsers was reinforced by the 
earnest wishes ot thousands of Montana's 
best citizens for his appointment. 

General C. S. Hamilton, of Fon du Lac, 
Wisconsin, threw a destructive shell into the 
Howie ranks by means of a severe letter to 
Secretary of War Rollins against Pinney, in 
which he said : 

' ' Geo. M. Pinney is the wickedest scoun- 
drel West of tlie Mississippi river, and the 
ieliberate murderer ot our friend Governor 
S. W. Beall, late Lieutenant-Colonel 18th 
Wisconsin Yols. He is now in Washington 
endeavoring to regulate the disposal of Mon- 
tana offices for his own benefit. I hope the 
murderer will be treated as he deserves." 

Senator I. M. Ashley, and Hons. B. P. 



Gen. Ryan, 79 

Hall, James M. Annitj, "W. A. Jones and C. 
H. Ball, also threw their influence in favor of 
Ryan. 

And the late Yice-President, Henrj Wil- 
son, sent Attorney General Hoar a strong 
letter urging his " young friend's " appoint- 
ment. The distinguished statesman had a 
great liking for General Ryan, and this was 
fully recij)rocated by him. General Ryan's 
admiration for his illustrious patron was so 
great that he presented him with a beautiful 
and magnificent cane, curiously wrought, and 
specially manufactured for the purpose, at 
considerable cost. IS'o doubt this souvenir 
is still in Mr. Wilson's family. The auto- 
graph letter accepting it is in the keeping of 
Col. J. G. Ryan. 

During the hot canvass for the marshalship 
Geo. G. Huntingdon, of New York, took up 
the gauntlet for his thievish friend Pinney, 
and savagely assailed Gen. Ryan by letter. 
The General replied that if he came in his 
way he would treat him as he had Pinney 
and his hired assassins, and denounced him 
as a contemptible puppy. 

Mr. Huntingdon took good care not to 
cross the General's path. 

The feeling was so strong in favor of Gen. 
Ryan for marshal that Col. Thos. Cottman, 
a very prominent candidate, gracefully hauled 
down his colors and espoused the cause of 
the former. 



80 Life of 

"All's well that ends well." 

TEEACHEEY. 

Gen. E-YAN was cosily seated in Oiis room 
in the Metropolitan, on Pennsylvania avenue, 
when a waiter presented a card. 

''My friend Fenton," he murmured, as he 
read the card. " Show him up." 

"How are you Whack?" cheerfully said 
his visitor as he stepped in. 

"Splendid, Captain," replied "Whack. 
"Be seated, John, and try some of this wine. 
Don't be afraid of it, it is splendid. Would 
not a little of it have been a God-send when 
we were lost in that terrible snow-storm in 
Minnesota?" 

"^It would, indeed. It is really fine." 

" What's the news, John V 

" Confounded bad. Whack, if it be true." 

" What is it ; anything going wrong about 
the marshalship ? " 

" Yes ; I have just learned that your sup- 
posed friend, the Judge, has turned traitor, 
withdrawn his name from your papers, and 
deserted to the enemy." 

" Is it possible," ejaculated Whack. " If 
there are traitors in camp we must hunt them 
down. Let us go to the Attorney General's 
office and find out. By the eternal, if the re- 
port be true, that old miscreant shall never 



Gen. Ryan, 81 

be a United States Judge of that territory. 
I will ' rob him of his expected bliss, ' as the 
song goes." 

They jumped into a carriage, and were 
soon at the Attorney General's office. 

There General Ryan learned that the re- 
port was only too true. The -Judge, whose 
name the author regrets he does not know, 
not only withdrew his name, but gave as a 
reason that the General was not qualified for 
the position. 

This set Eyan in a white heat of passion. 

Into the carriage again, and down to the 
Metropolitan hotel. 

When in his room. General E-yan said to 
Captain Fenton : 

" John, scratch out a strong doucumentfor 
that contemptible fellow to sign, retracting 
his assertion as to my competency for the 
office my friends wish to elevate me to. Put it 
in language that would bring a blush to an 
honorable face. Make it hot as Indian 
whisky. ' ' 

"Probably he won't sign it. Whack ?" 

"Sign it!" said our hero, sarcastically; 
"Yes, he will, John, or I'll die trying to 
make him." 

The paper was drawn up as desired, and 
no man was better qualified for such a task 
than its author. This accomplished, both 

c 



82 Life of ^ 

put on some "artillery," incase "business'' 
would require it, and tlien sallied forth in di- 
rection ot the Capitol, where the Judge was 
wire-pulling for the position to which he as- 
pired. 

NEARLY A COW-HIDING MATINEE. 

On their way to the Capitol General Eyan 
purchased a substantial raw-hide, which he 
secreted up his sleeve. 

Capt. Fenton knew what this meant, and 
began to cogitate on the probable result. He 
knew if the Judge failed to sign the docu- 
ment the General would unmercifully casti- 
gate him. 

The Judge was found in one of the Senate 
cloak rooms. 

General Ryan walked up to him, and said: 

"Judge, I am informed by the Attorney 
General that you, sir, have withdrawn your 
name from my papers, giving as a reason that 
I am not qualified for the position, etc. ]N'ow, 
sir, believing you were forced to take this 
disgraceful step by the Pinuey faction, I 
brought this instrument for you to sign. You 
will perceive it is addressed^ to the Attorney 
General." 

The Judge took the document, and hur- 
riedly perused it. As he did so the color 
went and came to his lace. At last he looked 
up and said: 



Gen. Ryan. 83 

*' Eyan, I can't sign this." 

Giving liim one of those cool, calm, pene- 
trating looks from eyes of burning lightning, 
the General responded : 

"You won't, eh? Well, we'll see about 
it," at the same moment quickly drawing the 
whip. " I guess you will sign it." 

j^ervously, the Judge continued, as he 
gazed on the instrument of torture, and re- . 
membered in what determined hands it was : 

"Well, Kyan, I am getting into deep 
water in this matter." 

"So you are," replied Whack; "and if 
you do not immediately sign that paper you 
will find that it is devilish hot, too." 

Overcome with fear of his relentless antag- 
onist, the Judge signed the paper, and there- 
by acknowledged his own infamy. 

In a few minutes more it was in the hands 
of the astonished Attorney General, who, 
upon reading it, indignantly said : 

"A man with no more firmness, self- 
respect and honor is not fit to be a judge of 
a United States court," and thereupon re- 
quested the President to withdraw the re- 
creant's name from before the Senate, which 
was done, and the Judge's official hopes were 
scattered to the winds. 

This turn of affairs made Rtaij's oppon- 
ents very bitter, and serious personal results 



84 Life of 

were shadowed, which caused both the Kyan 
and Pinnej factions considerable uneasiness. 
Matters looking so grave, the President 
concluded it best for the interests ot the Re- 
publican parly in Montana to ignore General 
Ryan, and the other candidates, so nomina- 
ted Col. W. F. Wheeler, of Ohio, who was 
confirmed to the position. 

MEETING THE CUBAN GEN. GOICOUEIA. 

During the marshalship excitement, Gen. 
Ryan met, at Williard's, the celebrated Cu- 
ban patriot, General Goicouria, and learned 
from that aged gentleman's lips the distress- 
ing tale of his country's wrongs. 

This touched our hero's sympathetic heart, 
and fanned into a blazing fire the embers of 
his great martial spirit. 

The result was he determined to espouse 
the cause of Cuba Libre, and risk the perils of 
a "black flag" war to see her free from the 
yoke of tyrant Spain. 

This determination was strongly opposed 
by many of his friends, who drew a faithful 
picture of the horrors he would have to pass 
thr< ngh, with a good prospect of meeting the 
sad fate that eventually placed him upon the 
roll of glorious martyrs. 

But this was all to no purpose. His mind 
was made up, and the subject possessed him 
body and soul. 



Gen. Ryan, 85 

This was the grand turning point in his 
life, and he entered upon the rugged path 
that led into the dark valley of death with as 
light a step and as cheerful a heart as ever 
characterized the knights of old, who rode 
forth through their castle gates, battle-ax in 
hand, to enter the lists against base tyrants. 

BACK TO MONTA^q^A. 

After concluding to join the Cubans in their 
struggle tor freedom, General Ryan made a 
hurried trip to Montana for the purpose of 
settling up his business. This satisfactorily 
done, he bid adieu to his friends, and made 
as hurried a return to New York, to enter 
upon a career that rivalled the most glowing 
romance, and ended so tragically. 



EOOK lY. 



GEN. RYAN AND CUBA. 



On his return to Few York, in May, he 
immediately entered into communication with 
the Cuban Junta, and the several prominent 
leaders, among whom was General Thomas 
Jordan, who was, during the late Rebellion 
in the United States, chief of staff of the 



86 Life of 

Rebel General Beauregard, and wlio drew 
upon liimselt" considerable Southern odium by 
some severe strictures he made upon Jeffer- 
son Davis, in Harper's WeeMy^ after the 
war. 

As soon as Gen. Ryan was duly initiated 
into the secrets of the Cuban party he learned 
that important work was to be done, and that 
General Jordan was organizing an expedi- 
tion of men and arms to land on the island of 
Cuba. Also that General Goicouria was in- 
augurating measures for an expedition on a 
very large scale, to follow that of General 
Jordan. 

General Ryan was assigned to duty to as- 
sist General Jordan, and when the latter had 
his arrangements completed he was entrusted 
with the organization of the Goicouria expe- 
dition, that created so much excitement in 
June and July, 1869, and which was known 
as '' Colonel Whack Ryan's Gardiners' Is- 
land Expedition." 

Leaving our hero for awhile, wrap]3ed up 
in plans for the emancipation of suffering Cuba 
from Spanish thraldom, we will advert to 
the war on the " ever faithful isle, " and what 
produced it. 

THE CAUSE OF THE WAR, AND ITS PROGRESS. 

According to the best information, no peo- 
ple could have been more loyal than were 



Gen. Ryan. 87 

the Cubans to Spain up to the year 1820, to 
which time she enjoyed perfect immunity 
from the wrongs afterward inflicted upon her, 
and under which she now, in 1876, writhes in 
agony. 

In 1825 the island was placed under martial 
law, and a Captain General appointed to rule 
the "Gem of the Antilles" as he saw fit. 
The Cubans soon tound out that they were 
considered as mere vassals by the mother 
country, and had no rights she was bound to 
respect, and that heavy taxation, without rep- 
resentation, was to be their lot. 

This the native, or Creole, element could 
not brook; but as they became indignant, 
proportionately the more harsh became their 
treatment. Down to the most trivial official 
position, every one was filled by a Spaniard, 
and the poor Cubans soon found that they 
had quartered upon them a most disreputable 
and mercenary horde of foreigners to sup- 
port, and be insulted by. In a word, every 
indignity was heaped upon them. 

The pressure becoming so frightfully gall- 
ing they determined upon an efibrt to 
free themselves from the crushing yoke. 

At last an armed outbreak proclaimed the 
hatred of the people for the tyrant oppressor. 
But it was a feeble effort, and soon crushed, 
at considerable cost to the "rioters," as the 
revolutionists were called. 



88 Life of , 

After this outbreaks became of frequent oc- 
currence until the memorable uprising of 
the 10th of October, 1868, which precipitated 
the horrible war that has been waging ever 
since. 

The most notable of these was that of the 
gallant Lopez and the brave Quitman and 
Crittenden, in 1857, the failure of which, and 
the sad fate of these leaders, every one is 
aware. 

THE UPEISINa AT TAKA, OCT. 10, 1868. 

In July, 1868, Carlos Manuel Cespedes and 
Francisco Aguilera, residents of Bayamo, 
considered that the plans of the revolution- 
ists for a grand uprising were sufficiently ma- 
tured for action, but the Junta at Puerto 
Frincipe insisted on postponing the outbreak 
for a year, which was agreed to. But cir- 
cumstances willed it otherwise, and the pre- 
sent bloody strife was commenced. 

By treachery, or otherwise, the Spanish 
government heard of the purposed revolution, 
and sent orders to the Governor of Bayamo 
to arrest and imprison a number of persons, 
among whom were Cespedes and Aguilera. 

This information soon reached these gentle- 
men, through a reliable source. 

Immediately thereafter, on the 10th of 
October, 1868, Cespedes and a few followers 
captured the little town of Yara, unfurled 



Gen. Ryan. 89 

the flag of the prospective Kepublic, aiid pro- 
claimed to the world that Cuba belonged to 
Cubans, and that slavery was abolished on 
the lovely island. 

At this time Spain was struggling with a 
local war of hnge dimensions, wliich subse- 
quently drove Isabella and Amadeus from the 
throne and raised a Republic, that was in 
turn soon overthrown, and the monarchy re- 
established, with Alfonso as King. 

The rebellion of her immensely rich colony 
somewhat startled the fossilized mother, and 
she immediately took steps to stamp out the 
treason. But all her efforts have proven 
abortive, and the black flag still floats when- 
ever Cuban and Spaniard meet in the terrible 
struggle oi death. 

THE WAR. 

When news of the uprising at Tar a was 
heralded throughout the island all the patri- 
otic young men of Havana, Puerto Principe, 
Santiago, and other places, rallied under the 
bright flag of liberty and swore to be free. 

With his white volunteers, and his own lib- 
erated slaves, Carlos Manuel Cespedes, the 
hero of Yara, marched on Bayamo, which 
surrendered immediately, the garrison not 
being strong enough to hold it. 

There Cespedes established his head- 



90 Life 'of 

quarters, and a provisional government was 
organized. 

]^ow the revolution began to spread like 
the wind, and soon the whole Eastern and 
most of the Central portions of tlie island 
were in possession of the exultant Insurgents. 
The feeble loyal garrisons could not hold out 
against the impetuous Cubans, and one after 
another evacuated or surrendered. 

By January, 1869, the Insurgents had pos- 
session of over half of the island, which is 
only YOO miles long and from 65 to 260 wide. 

At this date Lesurdi was the Captain Gen- 
eral. This officer was aware, through expe- 
rience, that raw, undisciplined men, promis- 
cuously armed with crude weapons, are no 
match for regular troops ; consequently, de- 
termined to hurl a heavy force against the In- 
surgents and at one blow crush the rebellion. 
But in this he signally failed. 

In time he was deposed, and Dulce was 
placed in command. The latter was soon 
laid on the shelf, and DeEodas was afforded 
an opportunity to distinguished himself. 
Soon his head feel into the iDasket, also, and 
Yalmaseda was put in his shoes. * 

Thus change after change took place, but 
no material advantage was gained over the 
rebels. 

During this time the Cubans who sympa- 
thized with the revolution underwent untold 



Gen. Ryan. ' 91 

sufferings. Women, children, and defence- 
less old men, were massacred upon the least 
provocation by the fiendish Spanish element 
known as the Yolunteers. 

On one occasion, during a theatrical enter- 
tainment at the town of Yillanuva a large 
paty of these scoundrels commenced indis- 
criminately firing upon the audience, kilKng 
and wounding nearly one hundred. 

"Wherever the Yolunteers had power they 
made a horrible hell of the surroundings. 

Captain General Yalmaseda, at one time 
became so disgusted at the horrifying acts o 
the brutal barbarians that he offered a gen- 
eral amnesty to the rebels to lay down their 
arms, that the revolting drama of blood might 
end. But the Insurgents preferred to suffer 
rather than return to the fold they so much 
abhorred. 

As soon as practicable after the sudden in- 
auguration of the revolution the Insurgents 
established a government similar to that of 
the United States, and immediately passed 
an act setting the negroes free. Carlos M. 
Cespedes was elected the first President. 

Of course this humane policy of liberating 
the slaves strengthened the new cause, and 
every day hundreds of them rallied under the 
flag that offered them freedom. 

These dusky sons of toil, General Ryait 



92 Life of 

was very often heard to say,- made splendid 
soldiers. 

The choice of Cespedes was a good one. 
He was in every way qualified for the posi- 
tion ; being an able lawyer, very intellectual, 
* of commanding presence, undoubted courage, 
quick to plan and execute, and a man whose 
heart and soul was wholly wrapped up in his 
country's cause. 

THE FIKST BATTLE. 

After the capture of Yara, Bayamo and 
Baire, the first victory of importance that 
saluted the "red, white and blue single-star" 
flag was in the capture of Jiguani, a town ot 
some pretensions. After a stubborn defence 
the Spanish flag went down, and the gallant 
General Marmol marched into the place vic- 
torious. This was on the 15th of October, 
1868. 

In quick succession followed the victories ot 
Caney and Cobre, and the disastrous defeat 
of the Spanish General Quiras at the head of 
4,000 men. 

In December, 1868, General Yalmaseda, 
at the head of a large force, swept down on 
Bayamo, with the intention of capturing the 
Insurgent government, but his mission failed. 
He found only the smoking ruins of the rebel 
capital. The Insurgents had not force enough 
to defend the town, so made a hasty retreat, 
removing everything of value, and were well 



Gen. Ryan, ^ 93 

out of danger ere the destroying flames de- 
voured tlie once happy place. 

JS'ow Gen. Yalmaseda again offered pacific 
terms, and a meeting was agreed upon. 

But this was prevented by the murder of 
the Cuban General Augustus Arango, while 
bearing a flag of truce. As he approached 
the Spanish lines they coolly and deliberately 
shot him down, murdered him like a dog 
while bearing an emblem of peace that the 
most barbarous and blood-thirsty always 
respect. 

This inhuman act fired anew the Cuban 
heart, and caused hundreds to rally under her 
flag that otherwise might have remained in 
their luxurious homes, far remote from the 
horrors of the awful struggle. 

A most remarkable incident may here be 
mentioned, and one that seems beyond belief. 
Two years subsequent to the murder of Gen. 
Arango, another brother, also a General, de- 
serted the Cuban cause, and went over to the 
enemy. 

The most charitable construction that some 
have placed upon this act is that he went over 
to the enemy with the covert purpose of dis- 
covering the assassins of his brother, and 
wreaking upon them a terrible vengeance. 

In April, 1869, the Insurgent government 
located at Guaimara, and a permanent or- 
ganization took place, with Cespedes at its 



^4 Life of 

head, Francisco Agnilera Yice-President and 
acting Secretary of State ; Pedro Figuerdo 
Secretary ot War, and General Manuel 
Quesada Commander-in-Chief of the Army. 

The Cuban Congress had among its mem- 
bers lawyers, doctors, editors, photographers, 
scliool-teachers, dentists, merchants, planters, 
bankers, etc., but all men of education, and 
proud of their families and lovers of their 
country, and terribly in earnest to see her 
free from Spain's hated control. 

In December, 1869, the Spanish force on 
the island amounted to 60,000, not including 
50,000 merciless Yolunteers. Besides this 
large force on land, the island was surrounded 
by a fleet of twenty-six men of war and 
eleven gunboats, two of which were formid- 
able iron-clads. 

JS^otwithstanding this immense power of the 
Spaniards, and the shocking barbarities sanc- 
tioned by such human devils as DeRodas, 
the rebellion prospered, and now still exists in 
this Centennial year, 1876. 

In the latter part of January, 1870, another 
attempt was made against the Insurgent capi- 
tal. The Spanish General Puello, a dashing 
cavalier, started on his raid, with 3,000 well 
equipped men, to annihilate the rebels. But 
General Jordan knocked all his calculations 
into pieces, by suddenly pouncing upon him 
in a narrow defile, and so utterly demoraliz- 



Gen. Ryan. 95 

ing liim that he had to beat a hasty retreat, 
leaving several hundred dead and wounded 
behind. 

This was one of the most successful battles 
of the war, and added considerably to the 
high military reputation of Gen. Jordan. 

This was the first battle in which oiir hero 
shed Spanish blood. Of it more will be said 
in another place. 

GEN. THOMAS JOEDAN. 

Here it may be well to state that the gal- 
lant General Jordan arrived in Cuba in May, 
1869. His expedition consisted of 300 men, 
and a large quantity of munitions of war and 
army stores. He landed in the bay of ]N"ipe 
Irom the steamer Perrit, where he was joined 
by 200 new Cuban patriots. While on his 
way to army headquarters he was attacked by 
a force of the enemy, which he drove oiF with 
considerable loss. On reaching headquarters 
he was warmly received by General Quesada, 
and himself and men splendidly feted. 

When Gen. Ryan arrived General Jordan 
took him on his staff, as its chief, then made 
him Inspector General, and afterward had 
Congress to make him a Brigadier General 
and commander ot all the Cavalry, a splendid 
corps of which he, Gen. Ryan, had organized. 
General Jordan thought a great deal of his 
young friend, who reciprocated the feehng of 



96 Life of 

his able commander. An extensive corres- 
pondence from General Jordan to onr hero 
was found among the latter' s papers, and of 
such a nature as would go to prove that the 
former had full confidence in Gen. Ryan. 

We will now return to New York and take 
up the regular thread of our narrative. 

THE PEKEIT EXPEDITION. 

After Gen. Eyan had been assigned the 
duty of assisting General Jordan with his ex- 
pedition circumstances transpired that threat- 
ened the success of the venture. By some 
unknown means the Spanish Consul at ]^ew 
York became aware that the Cubans were 
about to send succor to their friends on the 
island. In consequence of this it was deter- 
mined, in . a conference between Generals 
Goicouria, Jordon, Cisneros, and Senors Jose 
Morales Lemus, President of the Junta in 
J^ew York, Jose Mora, Francisco Fesser, 
— Alfaro, Dr. Bassora, Kyan, and others, 
to get Jordan oif at once. 

This was accordingly done, with the suc- 
cess before stated. 

EYAn's EXPEDITION". 

It was now resolved, as Gen. Jordan had 
gotton off safely, to commence organizing a 
large force, say a thousand or fifteen hundred 



Gen. Ryan. 97 

men, and a great quantity of arms and ammu- 
nition. 

To accomplish this the more secretly, and 
as Gen. Etan was not known to be identi- 
fied \Y\\\\ the Cuban cause, it was concluded 
best for him to get up an excitement advising 
jouiig men to accompany him to Montana to 
work in his mines. By this plan it was be- 
lieved adventurous spirits could be reached. 
And especially when it became known that 
their expenses would be defrayed. 

Accordingly the ^'man with the white 
hat," as the :Nrew York World used to call 
onr hero, because of the immense white 
slouch hat he affected, opened an office, and 
flooded the country with circulars. 

In the meantime he took into his confidence 
Col. James T. Clancy, of Boston, a dashing 
young Irish-American soldier of the Charley 
O'Malley type, and Capt. A. T. S. Anderson, 
as fine a fellow as ever professed friendship. 
To these he entrusted the most important 
duties of his ^'emigration" scheme; the gist 
of which was to discover if the applicant 
was of a warlike turn of mind, and to select 
all of such class, and swear them into the 
League. * These, in turn, were used as agents 
to drum up other recruits. In this manner 
the work was soon accomplished very satis- 
factorily, and by June 12th, 1869, over 1,200 
picked men were enrolled. 

00 



98 Life of 

While Gen. Ryan was rapidly performing 
Lis part Gen. Goicouria and Senors Allaro, 
Gonzales and Lemiis were actively getting to- 
gether the war material and army stores, and 
securing suitable vessels to do the transport- 
ing of the men, munitions, and supplies. 

General Ryan's part had been performed 
not only to tlie satisfaction but also to the ad- 
miration of the Junta. His 1,200 ^'emi- 
grants " had been carefully selected from over 
5,000 applicants. Among those chosen were 
100 Federal and ex-Confederate officers, com- 
prising two Major Generals, three Brigadier 
Generals, thirteen Colonels, nine Lieutenant- 
Colonels, five Majors, and forty-nine Captains 
and other officers. Of the latter twenty-seven 
were Prussian, French, and English officers 
of ability and war experience. 

The men were quartered at points so con- 
tiguous to each other that concentration was 
an easy matter. 

Everything was working to a charm, and 
the hearts of all beat high with the hope of 
soon being on the island striking a heavy 
blow for freedom. 

It was decided that the expedition should 
leave on June 20th, 1869. 

TREACHERY ARRESTS. 

When the sk}^ seemed very clear and bright 
clouds began to gather thick and dark over 



Gen. Ryan. 99 

the horizon of our hero's new venture, and 
tlie bright picture he and his friends had been 
conjuring up for months was soon to be 
smeared over by disappointment. 

A traitor was in camp, and although he 
did not know much, still the information he 
gave the authorities caused the arrest of Gen. 
Ryan, Colonel Chas. Currier, Dr. Bassora, 
and tenors Alfaro, Mora, Lemus, Fesser, P. 
Gonzales, and others, and their indictment 
by the United States Grand Jury for violat- 
ing the neutrality laws. 

This occurred on the 16th of June, 1869. 

XN" LUDLOW STREET JAIL. 

All were immediately placed in Ludlow 
Street Jail until they could give bail. 

On the lYth of June they were released on 
heavy bonds. 

l!^ow it was determined to immediately get 
the expedition off at all hazards. 

At this- critical moment another, and the 
most fatal drawback occurred. The principal 
boat engaged accidentally injured some of her 
machinery, and had to go into dock for 
repairs. 

This proved a terrible disaster. 

The calamity caused a delay of several 
days, and ultimately the failure of the grand- 
est expedition, both of men and arms ever 



100 Life of 

before or since organized for the same noble 
cause. 

AGAIN IN JAIL. 

On June 22nd, just as the repairs on the 
boat were finished, and every preparation 
made to start the next night. Gen. Ryan and 
those mentioned before, and Col. J. C. Con- 
ant, F. J. McNulty and E. A. DeBose, were 
again arrested and imprisoned. 

This time it was charged that the parties 
on bond had violated their obligations to the 
law by again acting in behalf of the Cubans, 
while the other three were arrested on the 
same charge of violating the neutrality laws. 

Public curiosity now became aroused, and 
the long newspaper articles stirred up consid- 
erable excitement in favor of the prisoners, 
and especially our hero, who was so well 
known in the Empire City. 

After laying in jail all night, they were 
next day, June 23rd, arraigned before U. S. 
Commissioner Osborn. District Attorney 
Pierrepont, now Minister to England, assist- 
ed by Mr. Bell, appeared for the State, and 
Messrs. Sedgwick and Lowry for the prison- 
• ers. Col. J. C. Conant, F. J. McKulty and 
E. A. DeBose were first called, and admitted 
to bail in sums of $5,000 each. 

Here a hitch was discovered in the proceed- 



Gen. Ryan, 101 

ings, as related to the other prisoners. It 
was deemed proper to arraign them before 
Judge Blatchford for acquital or commitment. 

At this juncture a good deal of confusion 
and excitement prevailed among the audience, 
which was of a very respectable class, and 
well sprinkled with lovely ladies, relatives 
and Mends of the prisoners. 

After considerable deliberation Judge 
Blatchford concluded to admit the accused to 
bail in $2,500 each, except in the case of 
Gen. Eyant, whicli was placed at the extra- 
ordinary sum of $10,000. 

When this was announced a loud murmur 
of indignation swept through the court room 
and flushed the faces of all there, save the 
Spanish officials and their horde of rascally 
spies, who seemed supremely happy at the 
serious situation of our liero. 

The fact of tliis excessive bond goes a 
long way to prove that the Spaniards must 
have made out a very strong case against 
Gen. Etai^, and that the court could not have 
been pecuniarily prejudiced against him, as 
many thought. 

What a mercenary Spaniard won't stoop 
to for the accomplishment of his base ends 
remains among the undiscovered curiosities 
of this earth. 

General Eyan was the leading spirit in this 
great movement in favor of Cuban indepen- 



102 Life of 

dence, and to trammel his actions and thwart 
his plans in that direction was the one single 
purpose of Cuba's enemies. And they had 
at their beck and call the most plastic tools, 
ready at all times to swear to any monstrous 
falsehood. 

Of course Spain's legal brains in New 
York, such as the ponderous Sidney Webster, 
cared little who perjured himself, or who was 
injured thereby, so their cause was success- 
ful and satisfactory. 

The glitter and jingle of Spanish gold has 
a magic influence in soothing troubled con- 
sciences, and driving away clouds from the 
callous hearts of those who reflect not that 
He who died on the Cross will revise their 
earthly records. 

When the Judge's decision became a fixed 
fact. Colonel Cummings, of the New York 
/Szm, and other friends, stepped forward, and 
after shaking hands with Ryan, offered to 
make his bond. This the General would not 
permit them to do, much to their apparent 
astonishment. 

THE LOVELY INOOGNITO. 

At this moment a slight stir was visible in 
the court room, and a magnificently-formed 
young lady, richly dressed in velvet, laces 
and jewels, laid her exquisite hand upon the 
handsome young prisoner's arm. As he 



Gen. Ryan, 103 

turned in answer to the soft pressure, her 
half-drawn, coqnetish veil, disclosed a face of 
wondrous beauty. A bright smile wreathed 
the cherry mouth, and the fire of pleasure 
sparkled in her lustrous dark eyes. The pic- 
ture was grand, and even attracted the ad- 
miration of the serene Judge, who mentally 
wished he was in the dashing " filibuster's '"' 
place for awhile. And could he be blamed. 
The man who wouldn't risk his second chance 
of salvation for a few moments of happiness 
in the electrical embrace of such loveliness, 
should forever be hurled into oblivion. 

What was such an angel doing in that hall 
where justice seldom entered % 

As the gay cavaKer bent low over the del- 
icate hand resting confidingly in his, her 
sweet lips parted over the most beautiful of 
teeth as she proclaimed in whispers that she 
came to go on his bond. 

A hurried conversation followed in an in- 
audible voice.; then in a louder key the pris- 
oner said : 

/'You have my deepest gratitude, but I 
will not consent to your noble wishes. I in- 
tend to appeal from the decision of the court 
in the matter of this really excessive bond." 

As this was said, a close observer could 
have detected a meaning look shining in the 
radiant beauty's laughing eyes ; an expres- 
sion that plainly said : I understand. 



104: Life of 

Then the fair vision vanished through the 
gaping crowd, and excited hearts heaved 
many sighs that the delicious picture had left 
them forever. 

In a short time after G-eneral Eyan refused 
to be liberated on bail the court adjourned, 
and he was ordered back to prison, and 
placed in charge of Deputy United States 
Marshal Downey. 

THE DARING ESCAPE. 

Now we have to record one of the boldest 
deeds ever enacted in daylight, and on such a 
public thoroughfare as Broadway. 

As the Marshal and his prisoner stepped 
into a carriage, the General remarked to nis 
guardian : 

"Marshal, a number of my friends are 
going to have a jolly time at the Metropoli- 
tan, and I would like to be with them for an 
hour. Let us go up and join them. I know 
we will have fun." 

Marshal Downey could see no harm in such 
a step, and gave his consent. 

The driver was instructed, and off dashed 
the party. In a few minutes they stopped 
in front of the hotel, and our hero and his 
escort where soon in the midst of a gay party 
who were discussing the Cuban question and 
matters of the recent arrests. 

The company was assembled in one of the 



Gm, Ryan. 106 

luxurious parlors of that palatial hotel. The 
assassinated Col. Jim Fisk, and the murdered 
Mansfield Walworth were there, and Doctor 
"Buchu" Helmbold, the Fenian Col. Bjron, 
General McMahon, Col. Q. R A. Eicketts, 
a mumber of newspaper men, the Lelands, 
and other prominent citizens. It was, indeed, 
a jojous throng. 

Who would have dreamed then that in a 
lew short years four of them would be mould- 
ering in the ground, three having been bru- 
tally murdered— Fisk, Walworth and Kyan— 
and the fourth, the intellectual and splendid 
Carpenter, of the JS'ew York press, the only 
one dying a natural death. 

When the now notorious prisoner stepped 
into the sumptuous room a loud huzzah wel- 
comed his coming, and glasses were emptied 
of their sparkling contents to his long life and 
the success of the cause of suffering Cuba. 

After an hour of the most exquisite enjoy- 
ment. General Eyai^ shook hands with' his 
friends, and then told the obhging and much 
pleased ofiicer that he was at his service. 

The two then walked from the hotel and 
through the immense crowd gathered in front 
of it to get a look at the soon-to-be more 
famous prisoner. 

From the outside of the great human mass 
a voice shouted : 

"Here's your carriage, Colonel. This 



106 Life of 

way, sir. Clear the road there, boys, for the 
Colonel." 

In the direction of the voice the Marshal 
and his prisoner pushed their way. 

The excitement was intense and the crowd 
cheered lustily. 

N"ow came the startling feature. 

As the objects of attention reached the out- 
skirts of the surging mass a carriage drove up 
and out stepped a deeply veiled lady who was 
soon lost to view. 

At the same instant a cloth was thrown 
over the Marshal's head, his hands bound be- 
hind his back, and himself hurried off, to 
where he knew not. 

Then Gen. Ryan jumped into the carriage 
from which the veiled lady had disappeared, 
and throwing a fifty dollar bill to the kid- 
nappers, said: 

" Boys, treat him well, he has been very 
kind to me. ' ' 

Then waving his white hat to the crowd he 
gave the word and away flew the horses in 
the direction of Fifth avenue, and were soon 
out of view. 

As the carriage dashed off the crowd gave 
three loud and prolonged cheers, few know- 
ing the real state of affairs ; but mostly all 
thinking that the dashing Colonel was on 
bail. 



Gen. Ryan. . 107 

This was not to be wondered at, as the 
crowd that immediately surrounded the Mar- 
shal and his prisoner consisted of two hun- 
dred of Gen. Eyan's "Montana emigrants," 
assembled for the occasion, and who played 
their part so well that those outside of the 
secret ring knew nothing of what was goino- 
on. 

When the secret at last leaked out, and 
search was instituted for the missing Marshal, 
then, in earnest, the excitement became uni- 
versal, and the garbled accounts of the escape 
in the evening prints were digested with 
avidity in every section. 

Marshal Barlow was one of the last to hear 
of the astonishing aifair, and the mysterious 
whereabouts of his unfortunate deputy. But 
the latter was safe and unharmed, and in due 
time was returned to liberty. 

Marshal Barlow set all the police machinery 
in motion for the apprehension of Gen. Ryan. 
But all his efforts were fruitless, and it is safe 
to presume that as his crime was only civilly 
criminal those sent in search of him did not 
trouble themselves very much to find out his 
whereabouts. 

Among the Spanish authorities the excite- 
ment was very great, and their calm, satisfied 
air of the morning had given way to one of 
fear in the evening. They rushed around 
frantically, and offered large rewards for the 



108 Life of 

General's capture. But their efforts were all 
in vain. He was safe beyond their reach. 

THE SECRET EETBEAT. 

When Gen. Ryan jumped into the carriage 
it whirled off in the direction of Central Park. 
At the corner of 25th street and Fitth avenue 
it halted, when its occupant, now in the 
garb of a "granger," stepped out and 
strolled leisurely in the direction of the Fifth 
Avenue Hotel. Near it a private carriage 
was drawn up. Into it the "granger" step- 
ped, and was driven to an elegant cottage 
near Central Park. 

In a few minutes he found himself com- 
fortably seated in a splendid parlor, chatting 
gaily over a glass of wine, with our court- 
room divinity of the morning, another lovely 
creature, and General Goicouria, Captain 
Anderson, and Senors Lemus and Alfaro. 

All had a good laugh at the expense of the 
zealous Spanish officials, and heartily rejoiced 
that their own plot had been so successful. 

The two ladies present were the main 
agents in making the escape such a decided 
success over the base intentions of the ene- 
mies of Cuba. 

They were both brunettes, and of the same 
style of beauty, each being bewitchingly 
lovely and youthful. One was a Cuban by 
birth, and the other a Creole, and a native of 



Gen. Ryan, 109 

IS'ew Orleans. And both were thoroughly 
wrapped up in the Cuban cause. 

It was the ]^ew Orleans beauty who played 
the part of driver of the first carriage Gen. 
Kyan entered when escaping from the Mar- 
shal; and the Cuban "queen" that of the 
one in which he appeared as a granger, she 
having left the first carriage as the veiled 
lady, and then quickly changing her attire in 
the Metropolitan, hurried to the rendezvous 
near the Fifth Avenue Hotel. 

THE NEW ORLEANS BEAUTY. 

It would not be politic to give the names 
of these heroines, but as a sad romance at- 
tached to the lovely creature from New Or- 
leans, and which was the subsequent cause of 
her lending her aid to the Cubans, it may be 
of interest to relate it. 

She was the only daughter of a wealthy 
Louisiana planter, whom we will style Col. 
Borreo. He joined hands with the Confed- 
eracy, and feel with the "lost cause " a total 
financial wreck. Then he removed to St. 
Louis, where he borrowed a large sum ot 
money from a private banker named Cash. 
This he soon lost in speculation. During 
this period Mr. Cash became a visitor at the 
residence of the Colonel, and was much at- 
tracted toward his daughter, the lovely and 
accomplished Octavia. This soon turned 



110 Life of 

into entrancing love. One day lie made 
known his passion to the Colonel, and asked 
permission to address the object of his ado- 
ration. The Colonel offered no objection, 
but mentally said, ''of course she will not 
countenance him." 

But the sequel will tell. 

When the Colonel's consent was received 
Mr. Cash drew from his pocket a receipt for 
$50,000 which he handed to the former, 
saying : 

"My dear friend, this is a present; your 
notes I destroyed this morning. If I succeed 
with your lovely daughter you shall have a 
check for $25,000. I will call on her to- 
morrow. Good morning." 

He was gone before the bewildered man 
had time to recover from his trance-like as- 
tonishment at this unheard of freak of good 
fortune. 

During this interview the bewitching girl 
was reading Ivanhoe in an adjoining parlor, 
and unintentionally overheard what trans- 
pired. 

Her young heart had not yet been pierced 
by the arrows of other than parental love, 
and it still ached from the wounds caused by 
her much beloved mother's death, and her 
fond father's misfortunes. 

"Twenty-five thousand dollars," she mur- 
mured. "Twentv-five thousand dollars for 



Gen. Ryan. m 

mj consent to an unnatural marriage ! This 
sum would once more place my dear father 
outside the toils of want and misery. I will 
consent ; I will marry him ; but will not be 
his wife. I shall never sleep in his embrace. 
I liked the man as my father's friend ; now I 
abhor him. But I will make the sacrifice foi 
my poor father's sake." 

And she did make it. 

]S"ext day Mr.^ Cash offered his heart, hand 
and wealth to his new-made idol. She took 
the subject under advisement, and in three 
weeks accepted his offer. 

The same day the Colonel's word was good 
for $25,000, and the future looked bright. 
^ On giving her consent, Miss Octavia in- 
sisted upon a quiet marriage, and an exten 
sive tour. 

In due time the nuptials were performed. 
The bride and groom were in traveling dress, 
and everything ready for the trip. 

While receiving the congratulations of a 
few friends, Mr. Cash was summoned to 
repair to the Lindell Hotel immediately, upon 
''life or death " business, as the note read. 

This was a ruse of the wily beauty. 

"While her husband of a few minutes was 
gone, she fled from her father's home forever. 

Her plans and disguises were so well ar- 
ranged that she experienced no trouble in 



112 Life of 

reaching ITew York, where she had one true 
school friend. 

She mailed a little note, before she left, 
telling her sorrowing father not to look for 
her, that search would be futile. 

This the heart-broken man never disclosed 
to the frantic and hall-crazed husband. 

Every artifice was resorted to, and all 
the brains of the detective department used, 
to discover the bride of an hour, but all to 
no purpose. 

Finally the wretched father and distracted 
husband went to N^ew Orleans in hopes of 
finding her secreted among the friends ot her 
youth. 

Fatal trip. While there Yellow Jack cast 
his poisonous breath upon the city, and hur- 
ried into unexpected graves hundreds of old 
and young. 

Among the dead were Colonel Borreo and 
Mr. Casli. They took sick in the City Hotel, 
and died there, notwithstanding the care of 
the proprietor. Colonel Morse, and the skill 
of the best physicians. 

This shocking news reached the virgin 
widow through an advertisement published 
by the cashier of her husband's bank, desir- 
ing her presence. 

When the affairs of her husband and father 
were settled up she found herself heir to two 
hundred thousand dollars in cash. 



Gm. Ryan, 113 

_"With this large sum she returned to Kew 
York and took up permanent residence with 
the friend of her youth, the lovely Cuban, 
whose aged parents had to flee from their 
elegant island liome to escape the horrors of 
Spanish thraldom. 

Being of a very sympathetic nature, it was 
but a short time until she became thoroughly 
wrapped up in the Cuban cause, and from 
that hour Her heart, soul, energies and money 
were sacrificed on the altar of her indepen- 
dence. And when death suddenly, in 1873— 
a few days before the murder of our hero- 
summoned her to heaven, the cause suffered 
a great loss, and drew tears of sorrow from 
hundreds of hearts that had witnessed death 
m the most liideous forms ; and hands rough- 
ened by the toils of bloody war smoothed the 
earth on her peaceful grave, and placed sweet 
flowers on the -marble that marked the young 
heroine's last resting place. 

Her close association with the Cuban cause 
threw our hero and herself together ; and his 
bold and fearless stand for the freedom of the 
people she so much loved, drew her to him 
in the strongest bonds of friendship. And 
the tender leeling was nothing more than 
purest friendship. No doubt this declaration 
will disappoint the romantic reader, who 
would, no doubt, like to have read that the 
fascinating girl and the handsome young war- 
rior had stepped together into the glorious 

D 



114 Life of 

web weaved by Hymen. If any deeper af- 
fection germed in their hearts no record was 
left, save what might have been wafted to 
angels' bowers on sweet zephyrs' wings. 

THE SECRET COTTNCIL. 

To return to the secret retreat of General 
Ryan, where we left him delightfully situ- 
ated with the two young beauties, the distin- 
guished G-eneral Goicouria, the dashing Capt. 
Anderson, and the stanch patriots Lemus and 
Alfaro. 

The ladies had doffed their male attire, 
and nature's loveliness looked exquisitely 
adorned as they reclined on rich velvet sofas 
draped in costly and enchanling fabrics. 

As the party laughed and chatted. Colonel 
Arthur Brocarde was announced. 

Upon entering the room he gallantly 
saluted the ladies, and congratulated the 
company on the happy occasion. Then gave 
General Kyajn a telegram he had received for 
him from Col. Geo. R. A. Ricketts. 

The General tore it open, and discovered 
that it was from his brother Jack, who was 
at Memphis, en route from Pine Blufi, Ar- 
kansas, to join the Cuban cause. 

The situation being so grave, the General 
concluded to telegraph him not to come. By 
the time this telegram reached Jack at the 
Peabody Hotel, Memphis, the papers of that 



Gen. Ryan. 115 

city had the news of the General's arrest. 

Upon the receipt of the telegram Colonel 
J. G. about faced, and returned to his law 
and editorial labors in that State where an 
editor must introduce himself to a community 
by making and angel ot one of its citizens ; 
and where a lawyer's library consists of a.. 
dilapidated digest and a splendid double-bar- 
rel shot-gun. 

At this council of leaders, which was rein- 
forced by the presence of that noble and pa- 
triotic lady, Madame Yillaverde, than whom 
no truer heart ever throbbed for her outraged 
country, it was decided, at the suggestiorf of 
Senor Alfaro, to get the expedition off the 
night of June 26th, as everything was in 
readiness. 

Before the council broke up. General ^xm 
scratched off the following note to United 
States Marshal Barlow, which appeared in 
the JSTew York Herald. It was written at 
eight o'clock at night, June 23, 1869. It 
reads : 

" Gen. Baelow— I deem it an act of justice 
to inform you that Deputy Marshal Downey 
discharged his duty faithfully; that it was im- 
possible for him to help himself when made a 
prisoner by my friends, as he was bound 
hand and foot, and promised a ' gag ' if he 
attempted to call for assistance. I very much 
regret having been compelled to this step, 



116 Life of 

but I tliink the act was justifiable. I assure 
you that he has very comfortable quarters, 
and was handled very gently. I have no 
hesitation in telling you that it was my inten- 
tion to respect my bonds, and that every 
word in the complaint against me is false." 

It was upon the affidavit of a traitor named 
'St. John that all the rearrests were made. 

THE SPANISH CONSUL. 

After the first flush of excitement attend- 
ing the miraculous, dare-devil, Claude Duvaul 
escape of General Ryan had passed ofiT, the 
Spanish Consul held a council ot war, com- 
posed of his legal adviser and his horde of 
spies, and determined upon a vigorous effort 
to capture the "filibuster," as they called 
him. This failed, so lar as their main inten- 
tion went, but resulted in the rearrest of Col. 
Currier, and the confinement of Capt. James 
Peters, Col. Clancey, and Col. Y. Michael- 
ovsky, a Polish-Cuban, supposed to have 
been accessories in tlie great escape. They 
were placed under heavy bonds by Commis- 
sioner Shields. 

Col. Currier was treated shamefully, being 
kept in irons most of the time he remained 
in prison before his release on bail. 

It is a fact much to be regretted that some 
of these Spanish spies were ex-Federal offi- 
cers. And it was a subject of wonder with 



Gen. Ryan. 117 

those cognizant of the disgraceful fact how 
the J could have stooped to acts so very de- 
grading. 

These miscreants would forge letters of in- 
troduction from prominent srentlcmen recom- 
mending them to Gen. EvAisTas persons quali- 
fied to make good recruits for his '' emigra- 
tion " expedition. But our hero was always 
on the alert, and had his scheme so well 
guarded that all such attempts to penetrate 
his secret failed. Even the traitor St. John 
knew nothing positive, and the arrests made 
on his information were with the hope that 
something tangible would leak out during the 
investigations. 

THE GAKDINERS ISLAND EXPEDITION. 

The night of June the 26th, 1869, was 
^ very memorable one in the annals of the 
Cubans and their friends in ]^ew York. 

It came on like a big cloud, and enveloped 
the city in a pall of blackness, cheerless and 
threatening to behold. Then followed crash- 
ing thunder, sweeping winds, and flaming 
lightning, while the rain came down as if 
heaven's flood-gates had been opened and 
the waters turned loose upon the earth. It 
was an awful night, and disastrous for the 
poor Cubans. 

Before the terrific storm broke loose in its 
awful iury, an interesting scene was to be wit- 



118 Life of 

nessed at Elm Park, Staten Island. There 
beneath the gathering storm were assembled 
600 so-called Montana emigrants. In their 
midst stood their leader, tall, erect and 
proud, with his dark-blue cloak thrown care- 
lessly back, and his broad-brimmed white hat 
turned jauntingly up on one side, allowing 
the flickering light of the camp-iires to kiss 
his handsome face. He was addressing them 
a tew patriotic remarks, reminding them ot 
the great undertaking before them, and that 
they must nerve their hearts to meet the 
issue. 

As the stimulating words fell from his lips, 
and were borne afar on the roaring winds, 
a loud shout of applause rose high above the 
coming storm that plainly told what implicit 
confidence those bold spirits had in him un- 
der whose banner they had rallied for free- 
dom's cause. 

At other points more men were awaiting 
the order to move. 

ON BOAKD THE STEAMER CHASE. 

Just as the storm broke forth in terrific 
fury. General Ryan and his adventurous fol- 
lowers had embarked on the steamer Chase 
which was to take them to the steamer Cath- 
erine AVhiting, chartered to land the expe- 
dition on Cuban soil. 

For hours they cruised about in the fearful 



Gen. Ryan. 119 

darkness, whicli was only relieved bj the 
winged lightning as it flamed throngh the 
heavens, and disclosed for a second the 
foam-capped waves ot the angry waters as 
they tossed the vessel high in the air, and 
then let it fall deep down in the turbulent 
sea, in search of the Whiting, but found her 
not. 

At last daylight appeared, and with it came 
the news, delivered by a Iriendly tug-boat, 
that the Whiting had been captured by the 
revenue-cutter McCulloch. 

It is natural to presume that nothing but 
base treachery caused the Whiting's capture, a 
ciilamity shadowing the failure of the splend- 
idly appointed expedition. 

The storm still ragiug in wildest fury, and 
another vessel being necessary to fill the place 
of the Whiting, Gen. Ryan concluded it the 
best plan to land on Gardiner s Island, down 
the Sound. 

This was done, and the men made as com- 
fortable as possible. 

Then the steamer Cool was cliartered, and 
sent to J^ew London, Connecticut, for j)i'ovi- 
sions, and other necessaries. 

Fortune still frowned. The Cool, like the 
Whiting, feel into the hands of the revenue 
officers, and was embargoed at Fort Hamil- 
ton, under the menace of its guns. 

This serious state of affairs was rather try- 



120 Life of 

ing on the "boys," but the cheerful spirits of 
their leader drove away the gloom as the 
fearful storm slowly spent its destroying 
wrath. 

The only shadow that rested upon the men 
was the fact that the enterprise was about to 
fail, and that the "First New York Cavalry 
Cuban Liberators " would be scattered for- 
ever. And this cloud became darker when 
the news was received that the other detach- 
ments of the expedition had been captui*ed, 
and were under arrest. 

Up to July the 4th, things were gradually 
assuming graver proportions. ISTews was re- 
ceived from the city that it was impossible to 
charter a vessel to take the expedition, as 
ship owners dreaded the fate of the Whiting 
and Cool, and that disbandonment was evi- 
dent, because of the energetic mov^ements of 
the United States authorities to capture Gen. 
Ryan and his faithful followers. 

When the morning of the 4th dawned the 
last ration in the commissary department was 
gone, and the messenger sent up to New York 
city tor supplies had not arrived. Knowing 
the day before that such would be the case. 
Gen. Kyan, to keep up a proper morale^ had 
an order issued for the men to be in line by 
six o'clock in the morning to salute the great 
national day. 

The programme worked well, and the at- 



Gen. Ryan. 121 

tention of the men was thereby easily drawn 
from their aching stomachs to tlie patriotic 
orator dilating in florid speech upon the glory 
and greatness of the American Union. 

But this unction did not suit quite a num- 
ber of the auditors, who could not help look- 
ing from the grand pictures drawn by the en- 
thusiastic speaiiers to the very questionable 
one presented by the undue exertions of some 
'of the government's officials to prevent suc- 
cor reaching a people endeavoring to strike 
ofl: the tyrant's chains and become a free and 
independent republic. 

Gen. E-YAN was deeply wrapped up in such 
reflections when a tug-boat arrived with pro- 
visions, etc. 

Among the stores was a barrel of good 
whisky. Some of this the General had im- 
mediately issued to the men, and soon all 
were as ''happy as clams." 

One of the party, a loquacious, pretentious, 
presumptuous son of the Emerald Isle, hav- 
ing taken an extra "tod," asked permission 
to make a speech about his much oppressed 
country. He professed to be very "larned," 
and was, indeed, quite j)olished ; but when 
least expected the mask would fall from his 
"iligant" manners and disclose the hideous 
defects he tried to hide. 

Of course the General granted permission, 
and Professor de O'Eaiferty mounted an old 



122 ' Life of 

box, and commenced his oration by smoothly 
saying : 

"Fellow-soldiers — You must pardon my 
introduction of Greek and Latin phrases, 
which I will translate as I proceed. They 
will be necessary to fnlly illustrate the glories 
of the classical ground over which I will have 
to chaperone you in my remarks. Being 
fresh in scholastic ethics I feel that I can 
speak the more understandingly upon a sub-' 
ject that should interest every true patriot." 

This neat exordium elicited great applause, 
and satisfied the audience that the " Greek 
and Latin phrases" would be no detriment 
to the interest of the address. 

When the applause subsided, the Professor 
entered upon his subject in true oratorical 
style, and for twenty minutes passed over 
some of the most luxuriant and interesting 
landscapes of his country's history. 

But now the " little dhrops" he had been 
moistening his mouth with as he proceeded 
began to operate, and he soon fell 
from the sublime to the ridiculous. He sud- 
denly left the grave of Robert Emmet and 
commenced to descant on the : 

"Iligant go-ats, the fragrant geese, the me- 
lojus swines, the angelic donkeys, the grand 
mountains, the majestic valleys, the sumptyis 
whishkee ; all these prove injubitably that 
she is one the gratest kunthries undther the 



Gen. Ryan, 123 

broad kannippj of hevven, it is ; and I can 
proov it, I can." 

Then quickly wetting his lips with a little 
more of the '^crather" he raised his voice 
and emphatically concluded : 

"And be jabers, any man that says to the 
conthrary are liards and scabs^ they ar." 

This extrordinary translation of the Greek 
and Latin phrases of the speaker started the 
humor of his audience, which broke forth in 
the loudest peals of prolonged laughter. 

The Professor had scarcely ended his ad- 
dress before some unforseen power upset his 
equilebrium, and laid him out for the balance 
of the morninff. 

This little episode added materially to the 
pleasures of the day, and it is presumable 
that years elapsed before Prof, de O'Kafferty 
and his Greek and Latin phrases were forgot- 
ten by some of those present. 

THE ORDER TO DISBAND. 

Affairs on Gardiners Island remained mon- 
otonous and uncertain as to the future of the 
expedition until the 18th of July, 1869. 

On the morning of that day General Eyan 
received an order from Senor Altaro to im- 
mediately disband his men, and to go himself 
to Canada and await orders; that Marshal 
Barlow was making a descent on the Island, 



124 Life of 

and all would be certainly captured and im- 
prisoned. 

This order was delivered by Captain An- 
derson, who urged the General to obey it at 
once. 

There was no alternative left but to obey 
this command of tiae Junta. 

When everything was in readiness to dis- 
band, Gen. Ryan made a short speech to the 
men regreting the painful course forced upon 
him, and parting from them with profoundest 
sorrow. 

After the address the men were again 
sworn to secrecy and fidelity, and the com- 
mand formally disbanded, after the few hun- 
dred dollars borrowed from Mr. Gardiner 
were equally di\dded. 

Then Gen. Ryan and Colonel Currier took 
their departure, and were not heard of until 
the reached Niagara Falls on the Canadian 
shore. 

It is merely justice to say that Mr. Gardi- 
ner and his family were extremely kind to 
Gen. Ryan and his men during their stay on 
his island, which lasted twenty-two days. 

It was Gen. Goicouria's orderly who be- 
trayed the mission of the Catherine Whiting, 
thereby blasting the hopes of General Ryan 
in his venture that cost so much money and 
valuable time. 

How hideous is treason. 



Gen, Byan. 125 

THE BJlKLOW raid. 

Gen. Ryan had scarcely been lost sight of^ 
and before the boat had arrived to take the 
officers and men to Eew York, when United 
States Marshal Borlow's anticipated raiding 
party arrived on the U. S. revenue cutter 
Mahoning, Capt. Webster commanding, and 
Lieut. Siinms in charge of the marines. 

Colonel Arthur Brocarde and Capt. A. R. 
Rapp were left in command of the men, until 
they evacuated the island. 

Of course the "capture " was an easy one, 
and Gen. Barlow's celebrated "campaign of 
the Hackensack " was shorn of some of its 
glory by the failure to capture the "notori- 
ous filibuster chief." 

As no war-like materials were found with 
the "emigrants" they were released when 
they reached New York. 

It was said that Capt. Webster treated 
Capt. Rapp shamefully, while Lieut. Simms 
was very courteous to every one coming un- 
der his jurisdiction. 

Thus ended General Ryan's first blow for 
Cuba's freedom. 

GEN. KYAN IN CANADA. 

When Gen. Ryan arrived in Canada he 
and Col. Currier made the Clifton House, at 
the Falls, their headquarters, where theii 



126 Life Oj 

presence attracted considerable attention; 
partly because of the General's extraordinary 
escape from the U. S. Marslial. 

While at the Falls a number of plans were 
laid to abduct him to the American side, that 
he might be turned over to the tender mercies 
of the enemies of Cuba, and be treated as 
the Spaniards might dictate. 

But they all failed. 

One of the parties to these attempts at kid- 
napping was named James H. Day. He had 
by some subtle means ingratiated himself into 
the General's good graces. Through this fel- 
low's agency the Spaniards thought they 
could get the man they hated into their power 
once more. 

Til at somebody came to grief the sequel 
will tell. 

COWHIDING DAT. 

Through the agency of Capt. Anderson, 
Colonel Arthur Brocarde, and Captain J. C. 
Harris, Gen. Ryan was informed that Day 
and others were endeavoring to lessen him in 
the estimation of some of his lady friends in 
the Empire City, besides conspiring with the 
Spaniards for his capture. The slanders per- 
petrated by this miscreant and his confeder- 
ates were of the most inlamous character, 
and richly merited the punishment that was 
inflicted upon Day. 



Gen. Ryan. 127 

On the Tth of August, 1869, Day visited 
General Kyai?^ at Ms hotel, and was invited 
to his rooms, where quite a number of gentle- 
men were gathered, all well acquainted 
with his scoundrelly conduct, and aware 
of what was in store for him. 

When he unsuspectingly entered the room 
and extended his hand, the General grasped 
it firmly with his right, and with his left dealt 
him a ponderous blow square on his lace that 
felled him to the floor and brought the blood 
in a stream from his nose. Some of the blood 
the General caught in a goblet, and with it 
made the unfortunate man sign his name to 
one of the Glifton House letter-heads. 

When this had been done. General Etan 
gave the wretch such a sound cowhiding that 
he got down on his knees and begged for 
mercy. 

After the castigation Day wrote, over his 
signature in bloody a full retraction of his 
cowardly slanders. This document was wit- 
nessed by Mr. A. Wenton, the telegraph op- 
erator at the hotel, and immediately sent to 
the New York Herald^ and published. 

The remarkable paper is now in the pos- 
session of Col. J. G. E-yan, the General's 
brother. 

Another of the defamers received a similar 
horse- whipping on the public thoroughfare of 



128 Life of 

Broadway, in front of the Stevens House, 
October Otli, 1869. 

Some may consider Day's punishment very 
great, but let all such reflect, and remember 
the rascally part played by that individual in 
attempting to destroy the character and tram- 
inel the liberty of one who had been his 
friend when clouds hung dark and threaten- 
ing over him. A person less cool than Gen. 
Ryan might have rewarded such treachery 
with a bullet, the argument used in Texas. 

It is a very easy matter to smear ink on a 
white fabric, but a work of labor to remove 
it eifectually. 

The slanderer is an abomination that should 
find no shelter in the sanctum of honor, and 
ought to be abhorred and frowned upon by 
all lovers of virtue. 

EETUKN TO NEW YORK. 

It was not until Sept., 1869, that General 
Ryan eifected a compromise by which he 
could return to the United States. 

This clemency was accorded by President 
Grant, upon Marshal Downey promising not 
to prosecute the General lor having him so 
unceremoniously spirited away in June. 

It is said that on the General's return to 
New York he met Marshal Downey on the 
corner of Chambers and Broadway, and after 



Gen. Byan, 129 

a hearty hand-shaking, that thej adjourned 
to Dehnonico's and laughed and chatted over 
the Marshal's startling adventure while sip- 
ping delicious wine, and conversed very 
freely upon Cuban matters. 

The Marshal asked the General pointedly 
why he had not given bail, instead of going 
through so much romance. 

"Simply because," said the General, "I 
had my plans so well laid to get oif the expe- 
dition that such a thing as failure did not 
seem possible, and I was determined to go. 
If I had allowed my friends to make the ex- 
tremely heavy bond I could not have gone on 
my mission without seriously involving them. 
Consequently, I plotted to escape, and would 
now be in Cuba if it were not for the betrayal 
of the Catherine Whiting." 

"What has it cost me, and what reward do 
I expect?" continued the General. "I will 
tell you, Marshal. So far my connection 
with the Cuban cause has cost me not less 
than $20,000; and this does not include the 
heavy cost of the arms seized irom my friend 
Pond, up the street, for which I gave my 
paper; nor $9,(!00 I borrowed from my 
other stanch friend Geo. R. A. Rickets, the 
President of the American Bureau of Mines, 
which went into my betrayed expedition. As 
to recompense for my time and money, I ask 
only a share in the glory follo\^dng the inde- 



130 Life of 

pendence of the island, and a recognition 
commensurate with my services when the 
emoluments are being awarded." 

"And yoii have a hope that Cuba will be 
able to throw off the yoke of Spain ? " 

" ]^ot a hope, Marshal, but a firm belief in 
the success of her fight. I may not live to 
see that glorious day, for the fortunes of war 
are treacherous, but it will come ere many 
years have been rolled into eternity." 

"I judge by your remarks that you purpose 
going to the island and drawing your sword 
against Cuba's foes?" 

" Yes, Marshal, and as soon as possible. 
Remember, this is suh rosa,^^ answered the 
General ; whereupon they separated. 

The Marshal was destined to again figure 
in the General's arrest., 

PLOT TO BLOW UP THE SPANISH GUNBOATS. 

It will appear strange to the reader, when 
the memory is refreshed, that while the Unit- 
ed States government was thwarting General 
Ryan's plans, and in every manner throwing 
mountainous obstacles^ fei pOQC Cuba's way, 
she was materially aiding Spain by permit- 
ting her to construct ships of war in her 
docks, and purchase large supplies of war 
materials from her private arsenals. But 
such is the fact known to the whole world, 
and very much wondered at by political phil- 



Gen, Ryan. 131 

osophers from one end to the other ot the 
civilized world. 

While these efforts were bein^ made bj 
the com-ts of Messrs. Osborn, Shields and 
Blatchford, aided by Marshal Barlow, and a 
host of spies fed bj Spanish gold, the latter 
nation was having rapidly constructed thirty 
gunboats in New York harbor to operate 
against the friends of the land she was ruling 
with ferocious despotism. 

This fact irritated some ot the friends of the 
"ever faithful isle" to such a degree that they 
determined upon an effort to prevent them 
from reaching their destination. 

After due deliberation it was resolved to 
blow them up by means of torpedoes, and 
every arrangement was perfected to carry out 
the terrible design, whenever the boats were 
on their way down the bay to the ocean. 

The eventful hour at last arrived. 

The night of December 21st, 1869, was an- 
nounced by chilling winds and glittering 
stars, and the bustle and noise attending the 
exit ot the gunboats. The fine Spanish war 
vessel Bizzaro, that was to convoy the new 
boats to the sea, was vomiting forth a thick 
mass of blackest smoke, and moving restlessly 
at her moorings, while the decks of her thirty 
'^chickens " were alive with seamen running 
rapidly hither and thither completing arrange- 
ments for their departure. 



132 Life of 

While this was going on, two tng-boats 
might have been seen quietly steaming down 
the bay close together. When they arrived 
at a certain point they slackened steam, held 
a hurried council, and then silently eased off 
from each other, while at the same time pay- 
ing out a lengthy cable. 

Along this cable, at short intervals, were 
strung countless formidable torpedoes made 
principally of that terror of an explosive, 
nitro-glicerin. 

This chain of death was stretched across 
the track to be followed by the Pizzaro and 
her thirty young relatives. 

The plan was, that so soon as the Pizzaro' s 
prow touched the cable the tug boats were to 
slacken a little and slightly drop to her stern 
imtil the whole convoy was inside the anni- 
hilating cordon, when the rope was to be let 
go and allowed to drift under the vessels. 
Then the electric current was to be turned 
on, the missiles exploded, and the victims 
sent flying into the air. 

About nine o'clock, amid loud cheers from 
some, and hoots from others of those gather- 
ed on the wharves to see the vessels leave, 
the magnificent Pizzaro weighed anchor, fired 
a salute, and proudly steamed away, followed 
by the objectionable boats. 

In a few minutes the nose of the leading 
vessel touched the awful line, and the hearts 



Gen. Ryan. 133 

of those in the secret thrilled with hope at 
thought of the horrible drama about to be 
enacted. 

Gradually the blood-chilling tragedy was 
approaching. 

A few seconds more and a terrific roar 
would startle the country, fill the air with 
fire and smoke, and strew the waters with 
mangled forms and shattered timbers. 

But this frightful picture was not allowed 
to startle the world. 

More treachery had taken place. 

Just as the the electric current was about 
to hurl so much destruction into the Spanish 
vessels, a streaming rocket was seen to shoot 
into the heavens and burst over the bay. 

What did it mean ? 

Simply that those engines of war should be 
allowed to proceed unharmed on their mis- 
sion to plunder, outrage and murder poor, 
sufi'ering Cubans. 

Why was this step taken at the very last 
moment ? 

The plot was the work of Gen. Ryan and 
a tew of his trusty Gardiners Island braves. 

In the secret was General S. P. Spears. 

Designedly, or otherwise, this person made 
the members of the Cuban Junta aware of 
the terrible nature of the project two hours 



134 Life of 

before the fatal spark was to have illumined 
the bay with the fire of death. 

Immediately the President of the Junta 
hastened to General Ryan and implored him 
to countermand his orders, that the destruc- 
tion ot the boats in American waters would 
militate against the cause, and in any event 
would be productive of little good. This 
plea was so strongly urged that the General 
consented, and the "danger" signal went 
flaming into the clouds just in time to pre- 
vent the commission of one of the most dar- 
ing deeds ever evolved from the brain of 
lion-hearted man. 

It will be seen that had Gen. Spears pre- 
served the secret of the plot, a blow would 
have been struck for Cuba that would have 
fully compensated for the failure of the Gard- 
iners Island expedition. 

This interterence of the Junta with the acts 
of Gen. Ryan caused him to make a news- 
paper war upon some of its members whom 
he considered incompetent to discharge the 
duties of the offices they held. 

These newspaper articles produced a reor- 
ganization of the Junta, and placed Senor Al- 
dama at its head, the person advocated by 
Gen. Ryan, because of his immense wealth 
and presumed fitness for the position. 

But the luture convinced the General that 
he was mistaken in his high estimate of Mr. 



Gen. By an. 135 

Aldama's qualifications for the important 
position to which he was elevated. 

When some of the facts relating to this 
plot became known the IS'ew York press in 
the interest of the Spaniards gave all sorts of 
highly-colored versions of the affair, and it 
was not until Gen. Eyan published a letter in 
the Charleston, South Carolina, Republican^ 
a few days after its failure, while on his way 
to Cuba, that the country became aware of 
all the facts necessary to exonerate the Junta 
from blame in the desperate venture, he as- 
suming all responsibility. 

OFF FOR CUBA, AT LAST. 

The prospect being rather gloomy for get- 
ting off anything like a large expedition, be- 
cause of the strict surveillance kept by the 
United States authorities over the movements 
of suspected Cuban sympathisers, and petty 
jealousies having arisen between the friends 
of the cause in ]N"ew York, on account of 
Senor Aldama's elevation to the Presidency 
of the Junta, Gen. Ryan and a few friends, 
Cubans and Americans, determined to run 
the gauntlet themselves, and go to the " gem 
of the Antilles." 

Accordingly they chartered the fleet steam 
yacht Anna for the occasion. She was com- 
manded by Capt. Rudolph Sommers, and had 
a crew of nineteen. 



136 Life of 

The night of December 29th, 1869, the 
little vessel, with her select passengers stowed 
snugly away, silently slipped out into the 
broad ocean, and started on her perilous mis- 
sion to the Gulf. 

Captain Sommers was not aware, at the 
time his vessel was chartered, of the "char- 
acter" of his passengers, who numbered only 
twenty-two, and whose ''baggage" was very 
heavy. 

Soon, however, he was enlightened, and an 
offer made to him for the purchase of his ves- 
sel. This was accepted, and one of the 
''passengers" took command of her. 

The weather being exceedingly rough, the 
vessel was forced to seek shelter in Charleston 
harbor for several days. 

When the storm abated the Anna was run 
in among the Bahama islands, where she met 
the brig T. Field of New York, in charge of 
Albert A. Fernandez, with a cargo of arms, 
munitions of war, and army supplies. This 
was soon transferred to the Anna, and at 5 
o'clock in the evening of January the Idth, 
1870, she steered for Cuba, under a high head 
of steam. 

This cargo consisted of a large number of 
Springfield and Remington rifles, Whitney 
and Colt's navy revolvers, machettes, and 
sabres ; a great quantity of caps and cart- 
ridges, and rifle and cannon powder ; two 



Gen. Ryan. 137 

twelve pound howitzers, medicines, clothing, 
stationery, printing materials, etc. 

The mysterious '' passengers " of the swift 
and rakish little Anna, consisted of General 
Eyan, Gen. Cisneros, Dr. C. Emilio Mola, 
Colonel James F. Clancy, Captain Tom Lile 
Mercer, Capt. Eicardo Ponce de Leon, Capt. 
Oscar Cespedes, Eloy Camachs, Melcher 
Aguera, Carlos Mayar, Eafael Cardova, Ju- 
hen Campaniera, A. M. Eojas, Yastie Autie, 
Angel Fomes, Juan Luis Ariasa, A. Esche- 
mardia, Juan Eius, Isidora Portillo, John 
Williamson, and others. 

SAFE AKRIYAL. 

The evening of Jan. 19th, 1870, the Anna, 
with Steam off, lights out, and but httle sail 
flying, cautiously stole into the beautiful bay 
ofNeuvitas. 

The night was very propitious for landing, 
being quite cloudy, but the air was as mild as 
a JN orthern June, and richly laden with per- 
fume of sweetest flowers. 

What a change! When the party left 
JNew York the ground was sprinkled with 
snow and the breeze cold and biting ; here it 
was spread with a carpet of green, birds sang 
and twittered gaily in the trees, and the air 
came freighted with delicious fragrance. 

The cargo was soon safely on shore, the 
artillery placed in position," sentinels and 



138 Life of 

pickets posted, and every other precaution 
taken to resist an attack. 

Then a courier was dispatched to apprise 
the nearest post of friends of the successful 
landing. 

Having satisfactorily accomplished her mis- 
sion, the gallant Anna, after being sold 
back to her former owner, turned her head 
Northward and was soon lost in the distance, 
as she went quickly bounding over the frothy 
billows. 

On reaching ISTassau the little craft was 
betrayed by one James Kogers, her steward, 
into the hands of the United authorities on a 
charge of having violated the neutrality laws, 
and detained for several months. 

IN CUBA. 

The following hurried letter from General 
Etan to his brother Col. J. G., at Pine Bluff, 
Arkansas, will be found interesting, coming as 
it did fresh from the land of horrible war and 
hideous desolation. 

It was written in camp near Neuvitas, Jan. 
19th, 1870. It reads: 

"Dear Brother — Here I am at last on 
the ' ever faithful isle,' but would not be if 
fortune had been less kind. I have only a few 
minutes to write. It is now midnight, and 
the Anna leaves in an hour. Our party left 



Gen. Ryan. 139 

New York the night of Dec. 29, 1869. The 
weather being very severe, we had to run 
into Charleston for safety. There our papers 
were overhauled. If we happened to have 
had any suspicious ' baggage ' on board, oft 
would have went our heads. As it was, con- 
siderable skirmishing was necessary to save 
us. While in that port I met some splendid 
Southerners, of ex-rebel proclivities like your- 
self, and was treated well by all. Besides 
them, I had the pleasure of meeting several 
United States officials, all whole-souled gen- 
tlemen, and Cuban sympathizers. Among 
them are Lieut. Keene, U. S. revenue. Major 
J. E. Patterson, Col. W. L. M. Burger, Capt. 
John Townley, Col. T. K. Warner, General 
James Totten, Col. J. W. Mcholls, Captain 
Stone, and several beautiful and accomplished 
women. (1 mean the ladies first.) I en- 
joyed their princely hospitality fully. There 
is something aboiit this Southern country so 
genial that one seems drawn to the people in 
a way pleasurable beyond expression. You 
know I prefer sunshine to clouds, conse- 
quently I drink deep of social pleasure when- 
ever opportunity offers. Shortly after leav- 
ing Charleston we ran in among the Bahama 
Islands, where we met the brig T. Field, 
Capt. Emerson. From her we received our 
war materials, which have been safely landed 
here on the margin of the beautiful bay of 
Neu vitas. We are right between two Spanish 



.40 Life of 

forts, and all around rise into the sky masts 
of their war vessels. Things are ticklish. 
However, we are prepared for a fight. Col. 
Clancy would consider it a great favor to be 
afforded an opportunity to try his pop-guns. 
Every minute I expect a body of our friends 
to arrive to escort us to headquarters. ' This 
is a lovely night, only a little cloudy. What 
an extreme change a few days have made. 
When we left E^ew York it was bitter winter, 
here it is delightful summer. Well, I must 
now say adieu, for Capt. Sommers is ready 
to start. I will write again soon, if I don't 
lose my scalp. Affectionately, 

^'W.A. C. E." 

In a few hours after this letter was written 
the expected escort arrived, and the expe- 
ditionists started for army headquarters. 

THE FIRST BATTLE. 

When Gen. E-yan reached headquarters he 
found Gen. Jordan starting on his expedition 
to intercept the advance of the celebrated 
Spanish Gen. Puello, who was dashing to his 
doom at the head of 3,000 well disciplined 
cavalry. 

Immediately upon becoming aware of this 
movement Gen. Eyan volunteered to take 
part in the battle, and the gallant General 
Jordan accepted his services as one of his 
staff. 



Gen. Ryan, 141 

As before stated, the hopes of Piiello were 
suddenly bUisted when Jordan and his braves 
dashed down upon him like a sweeping ava- 
lanche, and utterly routed his forces. 

Gen. Ryan's dare-devil courage in this glo- 
rious victory won him a bright place in the 
hearts of his comrades that he held forever 
after during the many terrible conflicts they 
together participated in. 

FIRST IMPRESSIONS. 

^ The subjoined letter of General Ryan to 
his brother will give a good idea of how he 
was impressed by aifairs in the Insurgent dis- 
tinct. It was written a few days alter the 
Puello defeat, in camp near San Miguel. It 
will be found very interesting : 

u * ^ * -^j reception at headquarters 
was quite complimentary. Generals Jordan, 
"Bembetta" and F. Yarona, Yincente Gar- 
cia, Modesto Diaz, C. A. Acosta, Ruvalcaba, 
and Colonels M. E. Aguera, L. C. Bailey 
and James Rooney, and Gen. Diaz's wife and 
several other lovely ladies were present, and 
gave me a clieering welcome. All around 
camp were scattered groups of soldiers, in 
every conceivable costume ; and some with 
scarcely any garment on. These kept a res- 
pectful distance, but looked cm-iously at me. 
Under your ex-rebel General Jordan's fine 
discipline these men resemble old veterans. 



142 Life of 

JSTegroes and whites fraternized quite Demo- 
cratically, and appeared one homogeneous 
famil}^, a sight very strange. * * The 
people must be terribly in earnest, or they 
never would have stepped out from their 
liomes of luxury and elegance to accept a life 
of extreme hardships and gaunt poverty. 
Til at they are determined to be free from 
Spanish thraldom can be seen in their every 
action ; and very sensibly felt in the flashing 
of the black eyes of the beautiful women in 
tattered garments. I can now partly realize 
how fearfully in earnest you rebels were in 
our late war. This one here is about a par- 
allel case. The Cubans are surrounded by 
the black ruins of their once happy homes. 
Their palatial mansions, elegant garments, 
and sumptuous fare, have all disappeared. 
But amid this awful desolation they stand 
proud, defiant, unconquerable ; determined 
to sink into martyrs' graves sooner than re- 
turn to the hated embrace of the poisonous 
fold they had left. ■5«- * * Americans are 
favorites with the people ; and especially is 
this the case as to Gen. Thomas Jordan who, 
ere long, no doubt, will be commander-in- 
chief of the army. I am anxious to meet my 
old United States army friend Gen. Frederic 
Cavada, and expect to in a few days. He 
holds an important command. * * Gen. 
Diaz wants me on his staff, as do others of 
the prominent Generals ; but I shall remain 



Gen. Ryan. 14? 

with General Jordan. He is going to have 
organized a select Cavalry corps, and has 
entrusted to me the important duty of per- 
fecting it. When the organization is com- 
plete I am to be its commander. * * * 
Jack, if I do not fall a victim to Spanish bul- 
lets, I am afraid I will to one of these beau- 
tiful Cuban girls. Some of them are exquis- 
itely lovely, and most charming in their in- 
genuous ways. As I write, one of the be- 
witching creatures is sitting, a short distance 
off, playing on a guitar, and singing a martial 
air. Her voice is rich and full, and its melody 

steals over my soul like . Confound the 

luck, why wasn't I created a poet, so I could 
picture my entrancing feelings. The fact is, 
I must cease writing, and get closer to that 
magic voice. Whack." 

"P. S. — I came near forgetting to tell you 
that we everlastingly whipped the enemy the 
other day. Gen. Jordan was in command, 
and covered himself and men with imperish- 
able glory. Will." 

FKOM GEN. JRYAn's DIAKT. 

The following items are taken from the 
Journal of General Ryan, and will be found 
quite readable : 

"Jan. 30, 1870.— Gen. Jordan very ill, 
from effects of over-exertion in the recent 
battles. — Mr. Goosman just arrived with a 



144 Life of 

message from President Cespedes. Mr. G. 
has presented me with a magnificent stallion 
never ridden. — This a. m. I wandered over 
the battle-field of the 2Yth inst. Dead Span- 
iards, horses and mules are scattered aroimd 
in numbers, fed upon by buzzards, and pois- 
oning the air with a disgusting stench. It 
was a lively fight. — We are bivouaced on the 
once fine plantation of Gen. Agramonte. — 
Eeceived a beautiful boquet from Miss Angel, 
a lovely girl. — Weather warm; just like a 
^Northern July. 

'' Feb. 2, 1870. — Courier reports the enemy 
marching on us, 2,000 strong, and burning 
everything in his track. — We are encamped 
for the night at St. Tereda, a lovely region of 
country. The landscape is beautifuL 

"inspector general. 

"Feb. 23, 1870. — To-day I was appointed 
Inspector General, and my name sent to the 
Camara (congress) for confirmation as Briga- 
dier General. 

"6 p. m. — Had a brush with the enemy to- 
day. Killed a number, and captured an an- 
tique piece of artillery, of the Elizabethan 
era. As usual, our boys made quick work of 
the foe. The hostile meeting took place 
at the Pin a plantation. One of the daughters 
of Senor Pina killed two Spaniards with a 
small revolver, while they were robbing the 



Gen. Ryan. . 145 

mansion. She is as lovely as she is brave 
and patriotic. 

''This afternoon Senor Majora presented 
me with a fine horse, to replace the one shot 
under me in to-day's fight." 

EXECITTION OF SPANISH SPIES. 

Feb. 6, 1870, Gen. Rtajs^ witnessed the ex- 
ecution of three Spanish spies. In noting it 
in his diary, he says : 

"One fell like a hero. He would not 
kneel, and was permitted to stand while the 
missiles of death went crashing through his 
heart. INot a muscle moved, and his face 
seemed to wear a smile. If in my power I 
would have pardoned him." 

This shows how tender and humane was 
the heart of the voun^ soldier who subse- 
quently.was barbarously murdered at Santi- 
ago de Cuba. Ryan was always ready to 
bow do\Vn to true manliness and courage. 
Courageous to a fault himself, he admired 
and respected it even in his enemies. 

In another entry in his journal he says : 

"Feb. 6, 1870.— To-day issued my first 
order as Inspector GeneraL" 

Now, it might be said, commenced his 
bright Cuban military career. 



146 Life of 

THE CUBAN ARMY. 

Now, in reviewing the army, Gen. Ryan 
found it organized into three grand divisions, 
witli Manuel Quesada General-in-Chief; Gen. 
Thomas Jordan Chief- of- Staff ; Major Beau- 
villiers Chief-of-Artillery ; *-Bembetta" Ya- 
rona Brigadier-of-Orders ; Adolfo Yarona 
Chief-of-Sanitarj Department, and himself 
(Ryan) Inspector General. 

The First Division, or Army of Camaguey, 
was commanded by Major General Ag- 
ramonte. 

The Second Division, or Army of the 
Oriente, by General Francisco Aguilera, 

And the Third Division, or Army of Las 
Yillas, by Major General Frederic Cavada. 

The whole force numbering about 12,000 
infantry, cavalry, artillery, etc. 

The Division Generals had as subordinates 
the best officers that could be selected, among 
whom were Generals Diaz, Castillo, Bosse, 
Porro, Recio, Coca, Pedro Recio, Bobadillo, 
Urra, Manuel Agramonte, Marmol, Marcano, 
Peralta, Acosta, Adolfo Cavada, Hernandez 
and others, and Colonels Warren, Bailey, 
Julio Sanguilly, McGill, and Rafael de 
Yarona. 

But very few of these gallant leaders lived 
to hear the sad tidings of the murder of their 
heroic comrades of the ill-fated Yirginius. 



Gen. Ryan. 147 

Some fell dead, sword in hand, while others 
were wounded and captured, and suffered un- 
told agony while being inhumanely butchered 
by the merciless Spaniards. 

THE BLOODY WORK. 

From the hour of his landing in Cuba until 
June ITtli, 1870, Gen. Efan was in a series 
ot skirmishes and fierce battles, the most 
noted of which were the engagements of Feb- 
ruary 11th, and June 17th and 18th. 

February 11th, he encountered the enemy 
near Puerto Principe, on a reconnoitering ex- 
pedition. So close were the Insurgents to 
the city that the enemy's sentinels could be 
seen walking their posts. 

Upon discovering the Insurgents the Span- 
iards made a grand dash on them, evidently 
expecting an easy victory. But in this they 
were greatly disappointed. 

The Cubans received them by making a 
counter charge. Gen. Eyan leading the van, 
wielding his powerful sabre with terrific and 
deadly effect. 

The Spaniards fought like demons for 
awhile, but at last broke, and fled in the di- 
rection of the city. During the bloody con- 
flict Gen. Eyan and a few of his intrepid men 
gained the enemy's rear, and when they com- 
menced their disorderly retreat literally cut 
them to pieces. 



148 Life of 

In the contest the Spaniards lost 40 killed 
out of a force of 200. Their principal loss 
occurred during the retreat. 

The Cuban damage consisted of a few 
dangerous wounds, Gen. R^an receiving a 
shght one. A ball struck a button on his 
jacket and glanced oif, ranging across his 
heart and lodged in his left arm. 

The enemy was pursued right up to the 
walls of the city, where Gen. Ryan planted 
a, flag, and left a small force to guard it while 
he made a raid along the railroad in the di- 
rection of ISTeuvitas, tore up the track in many 
places, and cut the telegraph wires. 

While thus engaged a small force of Span- 
ish infantry attacked him, but were soon 
compelled to retreat with considerable loss. 

On the 13th of February, General Ryan, 
Captain Morelle and Lieutenant Cabba, with 
only 25 men, attacked and put to flight three 
columns of the enemy in as many consecutive 
engagements. 

Each column of the Spaniards numbered 
150 men. 

For these brilliant actions the General's 
connnand received the highest praises of the 
commanding Generals. 

A BLOODY FIGHT. 

The battle of June 17th, 1870^ was a very 
sanguinary one, and as disastrous to the 



Gen. Ryan. 149 

Spaniards as it was glorious for tlie invincible 
Cubans. 

The force of General Kyan commenced the 
action. The Spaniards met the Cubans in 
splendid style, and for an hour the contest 
raged fiercely, without eitlier side gaining the 
advantage. Up to this time nothing but the 
ring of the gleaming sabre could be heard as 
they came together with lightning speed, or 
crushed through some enemy's skull. 

But a change soon took place. 

A bugle blast rang out from the Cuban 
ranks to use the pistol. 

The left hand quickly grasped the deadly 
Colt, and the work of blood commenced. 

Each of General Ryan's men emptied a 
saddle at every discharge, and soon, amid the 
prancing of horses, groans, fire, smoke, 
crack of pistols and clamor of war, the Span- 
iards broke into disorder, and precipitately 
fled, followed by the exultant foe, who cut 
them down at every jump with the pistol, 
saber, and the dreadful machette, a very long 
sword-like knife. 

In this terrific fight the Spaniards lost over 
one hundred in killed, and a number of horses 
and arms. 

The Cubans lost twenty-five killed and a 
number wounded. 



150 Life of 

A TERRIBLE BATTLE. 

June the 18th, the day following the con- 
test just mentioned, witnessed one of the 
most terrible dramas ever enacted on the 
bloody and ghastly theater of war. It oc- 
curred in sight of the city of Puerto Prin- 
cipe, and just as the mantle of night was be- 
ing gently rolled back by the coming dawn. 

Gen. Kyan had sent oif all his command on 
a raid, with exception of fifty men. With 
these he took up a position on the skirt of a 
small river near Puerto Principe. A bridge 
ran across this body of water, and formed a 
portion of the main road to the cit3^ The 
General anticipated a movement from the 
Spaniards to seek revenge for the disastrous 
defeat of the 17th, and accordingly posted 
himself so that he could watch their actions. 

By some means the enemy became aware 
that the force under General Ryan had been 
divided. 

This was their opportunity. They would 
rusli upon him and sweep him out of exist- 
ence, and retrieve their lost honors. 

Accordingly a force of 450 picked cavalry 
and infantry were selected for the glorious 
work. 

This plan had no sooner been decided on 
that it was communicated to General Ryan 
by one of his negro spies. 



Gen. By an. 151 

After counting the cost, General Kyan- de- 
termined to ambush, and annihilate the over- 
confident seekers after revenge. Each of his 
men had twenty-eight shots, besides their 
keen-edged swords. With these 1,400 shots, 
and a judicious use of the trusty sabre, he 
believed he could utterly destroy those com- 
ing to extirpate him. 

The enemy would have to cross the bridge 
to get into the main road, then their route 
would be flanked for some distance by large 
trees, and a thick undergrowth of cactus and 
thorny and gnarled vines. 

Just where the road would debouch from 
this walled defile, Gen. Eyan had stretched a 
net- work of telegraph wire to trip up the 
horses. On each side ot the road, behind the 
natural fortification of trees and vines, he 
posted his men dismounted, save a few at 
the front and rear of the ambush, to hem in 
the doomed column. Then he placed two 
buglers near the bridge, two more near the 
wire-barricade, and one on each flank. 

These were to sound the charge nearly at 
the same moment; those stationed at the 
bridge to sound the death knell just as soon 
as the rear of the Spanish column had en- 
tered the path that led to the yawning grave. 

At last the fatal hour arrived. 

Out from the city poured the heavy dra- 
goons and veteran infantry, four hundred and 



152 Life of 

filty strong, massed in close column. All was 
quiet, save the noise of their heavy tramp, 
tramp, tramp. 

It was yet quite dark, but lights gleamed 
in the city. 

At last the little bridge groaned under the 
heavy weight passing over it. 

The ''avengers" had entered the fatal 
passage. 

In their rear a strange, shrill bugle blast 
rings out upon the morning air. 

Then it sounds in their front, on their 
flanks, and all around them. 

They halt, and stout hearts shudder. 

A loud and continuous report startles the 
coming day. Horses lose their riders. A 
wall of fire rises on all sides. The funeral 
pyre is ablaze. The work of death has com- 
menced. There is no escape. Dead men 
and horses rapidly fill the defile, and life is 
narrowing every second. 

The work has been done. 

Kight has disappeared, and the King of 
Day comes forth to view a terrible scene. 

Of those four hundred and fifty souls three 
hundred and odd are dead or dying. 
. And the rest might as well be. l^one of 
them will ever cross Carasco bridge alive, 
save twenty-eight. They all, save one, es- 
caped miraculously ; and he, a mere boy, was 



Gen. Ryan. 163 

spared by Gen. Eyan, and sent to the Gov- 
ernor of Puerto Principe with an account of 
the awful slaughter. 

RETALIATION. 

The result of this frightful conflict gav^e 
the Cubans an opportunity to drink deep of 
the sweet cup of revenge, for the inhuman 
butchery of their mothers, sisters, aged fath- 
ers, and brothers and friends made prisoners, 
and then fiendishly murdered. 

One hundred and twenty-two prisoners had 
been taken by General Ryan. 

They were doomed to death. 

In one hour after the capture their souls 
were hurled into eternity, and sent before 
their God. 

It was a fearful sight — four hundred and 
twenty-one human forms piled up together in 
gory hideousness. 

It was a horrible alternative. 

But the Spaniards established the aivful 
precedent^ and General Ryan was forced to 
act in selt-defense. 

The horrible acts of deviltry committed 
upon poor, weak and defenseless Cubans had 
reached monstrous proportions without even 
an effort at retaliation. 

This shocking picture General Ryan deter- 
mined to hold up to Spanish gaze in their 



154 Life of 

own brutisli gore. And he shrank not from 
the horrible work when opportunity offered. 

GEN. KYAN TO THE QOVERNOK. 

When this fria^htful drama of retaliation 
was ended', General Eyan wrote the follow- 
ing explanatory letter to the Governor of 
Puerto Principe, and sent it by the boy whom 
he had spared from the fate that befell his 
comrades : 

" To THE Governor of Puerto Principe : 

Sir — Your forces and my cavalry have met 
on several occasions. In each conflict you 
sustained heavy loss. As I expect to meet 
them again, I deem it right to apprise 
you of the barbarous treatment our women, 
children and defenseless old men receive at 
the hands of your officers and men. Your 
troops, who claim to be honorable soldiers, 
murder in the most shocking manner our poor 
women and helpless children, mangling their 
bodies in the most hideous manner, even to 
gouging out their eyes, cutting off their ears 
and limbs, and disemboweling them. This 
butchery I strongly condemn, while I might 
pardon the murder of our soldiers. If you 
visited the battle-fields of Cercado, Yista 
Hermosa, Magdalena, Manandagua, Delores, 
Anton, Horena Cal, La Caridad, Sebastopol, 
St. Miguel, and others, you would have seen 
how I respected your dead. And now if you 



Gen. Ryan. 155 

will visit the battle-field of this morning, in 
full view of your city and forts, you will see 
how determinedly I can retaliate for the hid- 
eous outrages you countenance. There you 
will find over one hundred of your finest sol- 
diers cut to pieces, stripped of clothing, and 
scalped. This terrible style of warfare I do 
not like, but will continue it until your course 
is changed to that followed by civilized com- 
munities. * * This letter will be handed 
to you by the boy, Manuel Luarez, whose 
life I spared because of his youth. By him 
I also send the scalp of one of your Cavalry 
Majors, and I trust the sight of it will have 
the effect to bring you to a proper sense of 
your base conduct. In the engagement of this 
morning you had 150 Cavalry and 300 In- 
fantry, while I had a mere handful ol men. 
The results of the battle will show you of 
what material Cuban Patriots are made — 
men fighting for life, liberty, right and prop- 
erty, and who are determined that their 
country shall be free from Spanish thraldom. 

' ' In haste, respectfully yours, 

''W. A. C. Eyan, 
'' Gen'1-in-Chief Cuban Cavalry." 

This document was perused with a feeling 
ot horror by the Governor, who sent it to 
Captain General de Rodas immediately. 

That functinary was at the theater when it 
reached him. Thinking it was news of Gen. 



156 Life of 

Kyan's capture, and probable death, lie had 
the ominous letter read from the stage. 

The consternation produced baffles descrip- 
tion. The Cuban members of the audience 
could not restrain a shout of pleasure at the 
glad tidings, while the loyal element shudder- 
ed at the awful picture. 

Their unguarded applause was fatal for 
some of the poor Cubans. 

There were present at the time a number 
of the ferocious Yolunteers. When they re- 
covered from the shock produced by the let- 
ter, they drew their pistols and commenced 
indiscriminately firing among the Cuban 
women and children, killing and wounding 
quite a number. 

VISITING THE GORY FIELD. 

The day after the terrible slaughter the 
Governor, Captain General de Rod as, and 
other dignitaries visited the battle-field and 
fully satisfied themselves that General Ryan 
had done precisely what he said. 

He did more. After they left the scene of 
carnage, he had all the dead humans and 
horses moved close up to the city walls, and 
there left to breed pestilence and death, by 
being exposed to the scorching rays of the 
June sun. 

This induced the authorities to seek an in- 
terview with Gen. Ryan for peace purposes. 



Gen. Ryan, 157 

But it amounted to notliins:, in as mucli as 
the Spaniards desired the Cubans to end the 
war bj laying down their arms, a proposition 
scoffed at by the latter. 

For this act of retaliation, the Spaniards 
set a price of $40,000 on Gen. Ktan's head, 
dead or alive, which accounts for the many 
attempts made to assassinate the dashing 
young soldier. 

ANOTHER INTERESTING LETTER. 

The following letter was not received by 
his brother, J. G., from General Ryan, until 
after the two important events of June, just 
recorded, had transpired. It was written on 
the 29th of March, 1870, one day after the 
General's 27th birthday, and dated in camp 
near Cercada : 

''Dear Brother— Since my arrival in 
Cuba things have been quite lively with ns ; 
in fact, a series of skirmishes, and some hard 
battles. We have to be on the qui vzve all 
the time, and are constantly on the move. It 
might be truly said that our headquarter' s, 
like Pope's, is in the saddle. This is a fear- 
ful life. The war presents few civilized feat- 
ures. The Spaniards first flung the NacJc 
flag to the breeze, by indiscriminately mur- 
dering defenceless men, women and children, 
and our soldiers when made prisoners. Their 
acts are of the most horrible nature, and hid- 



158 Life of 

eons to look upon. Of course yon think a war 
of extermination like this would soon end 
in disaster to the Cubans. Such a conclusion 
is logical, but I assure you that this struggle 
will never end while a Cuban rebel breathes. 
The infamous cruelties committed upon them 
b}^ the barbarous Spaniards have so embit- 
tered our people that nothing but their entire 
annihilation will restore the island to the 
mother country. Just so long as our men 
hold out so long will the soil produce subsist- 
ence for them. Ever^ species of healthy food 
is indigenous to this climate. Fish, fowl, 
hogs and cattle about everywhere ; and fruits, 
vegetables and cereals yield two crops a year, 
and require but little cultivation ; while the 
most mutritious grass springs up all over the 
island, affording a rich pasturage for horses 
and cows. And the climate being always 
summer, we care not if every house is given 
to the flames. We have shady trees and cool 
recesses in the rugged rocks to shelter our 
Spartan women and orphaned children, and 
heroic wounded and sick comrades. In fact, 
we are so situated that nothing but an army 
of half a million of determined men, moved 
rapidly, can conquer us. We are all one here 
as to color. We have declared the negroes 
politically free, and they will die in defence 
of those granting tlie heavenly boon. They 
make splendid soldiers, are easily controlled 
and desperate in battle. We are" one grand 



Gen. Ryan. 159 

brotlierliood, deterinined to be free or to die 
in the glorious attempt. And the women, 
God bless them, are, if such a thing could be 
possible, more patriotic than the men. Thev 
are like sunshine in our gloomy camp. They 
never murmur, but move about like minister- 
ing angels, . cheering sad hearts, and casting 
a halo of brightness vrherever they go. And 
when necessary they can handle the revolver 
and rifle with deadly accuracy, and many a 
Spanish trooper has rolled from liis saddle 
when their delicate fingers pressed the fatal 
trigger. * * We are so impregnably situ- 
ated that we can slaughter the enemy when- 
ever he approaches. Mountains, rocks, hills, 
caves, ravines, thick woods, marshy ground, 
and high grasses afibrd us protection, and 
give us incalculable advantage over the foe. 
Sometimes they leisurely ride into our am- 
bush laughing and singing, and speculating 
as to the whereabouts of the rebels, not 
dreaming of danger until the hail of death 
comes pouring upon them from every side, 
sounding the dread warning when it too late 
to save them. It seems like murder. But 
do they deserve mercy who murder women, 
children and defenceless old men ? " ISTo," I 
hear you say.** We count twenty-five of our 
jnen equal to five hundred of the enemy. *** 



" I am now in command of all the Cavalry, 



160 Life of 

and immediately under me I keep tlie corps 
recently organized. It is a splendid body of 
men, and will follow where tlie most intrepid 
dare lead. Its members were carefully se- 
lected from the bravest souls of our invincible 
army. It would astonish you if I had time 
to narrate the wonderful feats of this little 
band. When it starts for the enemy it moves 
like lightning, and sweeps everything in its 
wild march. Its charge is overpowering, ir- 
resistible, and fatal to its foes ; the maddened 
steeds trample everything in their track, and 
the unerring pistol and gleaming sabre com- 
plete the awtul wreck. * * Quite a number 
of prominent officers resigned their positions 
in other commands to go into the ranks of 
tliis corps. * * -5^ My Chief of Scouts is 
Captain Henry M. Earle Reeves, of Brook- 
lyn, NeM^ York, one of best and bravest sol- 
diers that ever drew a sword. At no distant 
daj^ he will wear a General's stars. [He is 
now, in 1876, a General, and among the most 
prominent of the Cuban officers, whom the 
Spaniards fear and hate. — Ed.] Colonel L.- 
C. Bailey, of Hoboken, New Jersey, is my 
Chief-of-Staff. He is a 'brick.' Colonels 
Warren, Clancey, and McGill, are ditto. 

"a lively battle. 

"Yesterday was my twenty-seventh birth- 
day, and it was celebrated with military 



Gen. Ryan, "1-61 

lienors. We had a little surprise party, and 
one decidedly unexpected. Colonel Clancy 
had just set the boys in a roar of laughter by 
relating the 

"monkey and parrot story. 

*' You may not remember it, so, as it is short 
I will jog your risibles. A gambler had as 
pets a parrot and a monkey — both very intel- 
ligent. Among the gambler's slang phrases 
were : 'you bet,' and ' we've had a hell of a 
time.' These the parrot could speak to per- 
fection. One day during its master's ab- 
sence, the monkey broke out of its cage and 
immediately made war on the parrot that had 
the freedom of the room. In a few minutes 
the poor bird was as bare of feathers as mo- 
ther Eve was of clothes when father Adam 
discovered her in the Garden of Eden. The 
rascally monkey after gazing upon the forlorn 
aspect of the unfortunate parrot, and the 
feathery ruin scattered around the room, ran 
into its cage and went to sleep. Yery soon 
the gambler and some I'riends walked in. 
Upon discovering the carpet strewn with 
feathers, he was utterly astonished, and ex- 
claimed, ' what in the devil has been going 
on here ? ' Here the nude bird stuck its 
head out from under the bureau, and loudly 
screamed : ' We've had a hell of a time ; you 
beti' The way Clancy flourished this was 

EE 



16« Lift of 

decidedly ricli. We had hardly recovered 
from our laugh when news of the enemy 
rapidly approaching our camp came sud- 
denly to me. In a moment we were in the 
saddle, and moving out to interrupt the march 
of the foe. As Clancy leaped into his saddle 
he remarked, ' I guess these fellows, when 
we get through with them, will parrotically 
exclaim, ''we've had a hell of a time, you 
bet." And it is to be presumed they did. It 
took me but a few minutes to make ready for 
the coming storm. Most of my force I 
placed in ambush on the flanks of the road. 
A portion of Reeve's Scouts were sent on to 
meet the enemy, with orders to retreat im- 
mediately on coming within sight of him. 
With my escort and staff I took a position to 
strike his rear after he had passed through 
the ordeal of the ambush. In a liitle while 
Reeve's rifles were heard. Then the clang of 
scabbards and heavy tramp of his retreating 
horse came to our ears. Down past us the}^ 
flew in close column by fours, pistol ready 
and sabre gleaming in the noon-day sun. At 
last the foe entered the vortex ot death, and 
before he became aware of his dread situation 
sixteen volleys had been poured into his 
ranks, emptying saddles, and piling up dead 
horses and riders together. When the op- 
portunity arrived my escort rushed in to play 
their part in the bloody drama. The Spanish 
commander now made a masterly move by 



Gen. Ryan, 163 

ordering a retreat, which was executed in 
splendid style. Mj escort was so small that 
it was ridden down in a second by the 
enemy's heavy dragoons. By this time the 
ambush flankers advanced with both pistols, 
and poured a deadly volley into the retreats 
ing foe. Eeeves had now joined me, and we 
commenced the pursuit, which lasted for ^yq 
miles. This action did not last more than 
thirty-minutes, but in that short space the 
enemy lost over one hundred men, a number 
of fine horses, and two hundred pistols and 
sabres. My loss was twenty-eight seriously 
wounded. Colonels Clancy and Sanguilly 
and Capt. Reeves and myself got scrafeihed. 
One Spanish dragoon Uterally lifted me out 
of the saddle. I caught the point of his 
blade in the hilt of my sword, and saved my- 
self It was the first time I ever was un- 
horsed by an enemy. * * * I tell you, 
Jack, these hireling Spaniards do not like 
our way of fighting. However, most of the 
officers are courageous, and die doing their 
duty. 

"gen. JORDAN- LEAVES THE ISLAND. 

''I came near forgetting to tell you that 
General Jordan has been sent to the United 
States on important business. Congress also 
detailed me to accompany him on the mis- 
sion ; but Major General Agramonte would 



164 Life of 

not consent to me leaving, unless I insisted 
on going. Perhaps it may yet be necessary 
for me to go. * * * I might say that I 
have now an independent command, and my 
Cavalry is looked upon as the ' eye of the 
army.' I must close this, as a courier is 
about to leave for the coast, and I want it to 
reach you early. Your last letter, and the 
Pine Bluff Press, reached me O. K. Hope 
you are well. "Whack." 

MORE FIGHTING. 

On the 6th of July, 1870, General Etan 
scratched a few more lines to his brother, the 
Colonel. He said : 

" Since my letter of the 29th of March we 
have had the liveliest of times, the action of 
the 18th ult. being, I must say, the most im 
portant. But every day has witnessed a con- 
flict of some kind. On one occasion, while 
attempting to blow up a train between Puerto 
Principe, by means of torpedoes, the enemy 
came near gobbling up myself and small es- 
cort. We had to run the gauntlet for life. 
The enemy had us surrounded. I told the 
boys we must cut our way out. There were 
only ten of us. I ordered them into single 
file at first, as we advanced ; then into twos, 
at a gallop ; and gave the order to charge. 
With our reins between our teeth, and pistol 
and sabre in hand, we dashed on through a 



Gen. By an. 65 

perfect hell of fire. How we got through is 
a mystery to me. But we did it. And it is 
hardly to be believed, nevertheless is a fact, 
that not a man was seriously hurt. For a 
short distance we were pursued by twenty- 
five of the enemy. On discovering their 
small number, I passed back the word to 
' open ranks ; halt ; about, wheel. ' It was 
only a minute until they came dashing be- 
tween our lines. ISTow it became their^turn 
to fight for life. A terrific struggle ensued. 
Crack, crack, crack, went the pistol, and 
clang, thud, clang, thud the terrible sabre, 
for some minutes, while the prancing of the 
horses and shouts of the combatants added 
interest to the bloody scene. It was a strug- 
gle on the part of the enemy to get away, and 
upon our part to annihilate them. When the 
smoke lifted i'rom the scene twenty of the foe 
were in fuU flight, and five of their brave fel- 
lows lying dead on the field. We did not fol- 
low — for before-mentioned reasons. 

-'Yesterday was the 'glorious 4th of 
July. ' I celebrated it by 

'^HAii^GING A NOTED SPAN^ISH SPY, 

''one Thomas Lopez, a daring fellow. He 
died like a hero, without revealing a single 
secret. The execution had hardly taken 
place when the enemy was reported advanc- 
ing. I sent Capt. Harry Reeves to recon- 



166 L'^f^ ^f 

noitre. Colonels Warren, Clancy and Bailey 
followed. In a few minutes rapid firing 
commenced. IN'ow a courier came dashing 
up with a dispatch that Keeves was in danger. 
I ordered him to feign a retreat, and directed 
Clancy and Warren to make flank move- 
ments, while I endeavored to gain the 
enemy's rear. Everything worked well for 
awhile, but before the foe had got quite into 
my trap, he ceased his pursuit and com- 
menced a rapid retreat. This movement was 
executed so unexpectedly and impetuously 
that I was taken by surprise. I had just de- 
bouched into my position when the heavy 
dragoons came thundering down upon my 
little escort, and literally trampled it down, in 
their wild flight. No joke. I, myself, 
was lifted clean out of the saddle by a stal- 
wart trooper, whose blade ran through my 
jacket, up to the hilt. His sword getting en- 
tangled proved fatal to the gallant fellow,' for 
one of my men ran him through. This was 
the first time my sword tailed to dash aside 
the enemy's steel. Most certainly the poor 
trooper must have had a powerful arm. 

" KETEOSPECTIVE. 

^'Yesterday, one year ago, myself and 250 
splendid fellows were encamped at Gardiner's 
Island, New York, celebrating the nation's 
great day. Only for base treachery those 



Gen. Ryan. 16T 

men would now be here with me battling for 
poor Cuba's freedom. * * * 

"To-day we had considerable of a frolic, 
and I feel tired alter it. It was at Altamua. 
Generel Mormol and Captain Maranda did 
most of the work. The former received sev- 
eral wounds, and the latter had part of his 
skull knocked oif. It did not last twenty-five 
minutes. Still we lost ten men and fifteen 
horses. However, we made the engmy suffer 
heavily. We burned thirty of their dead. 
We have to cremate the dead, not having 
time to bury them. 

"a conference. 

''July 9. — Yesterday I had an interview 
with Generals Agrainonte, Boza, Porro, 
Marmol and Cavada, at Ciego. 

''A change ot Presidents is in the wind. 
Some of the leaders are dissatisfied with 
Cespedes ; and this is sympathized with by a 
majority of the Congress. To-day a commis- 
sioner will leave for l!Tew York to canvass 
the matter among our friends there. I will 
furnish him an escort to the coast. This let- 
ter, and one to General Jordan, will be taken 
by him. It is now 6 p. m., and he will leave 
at 8. We are again at La C arid ad. Very 
warm here. To-night we will leave for St. 
Miguel, and expect to attack that city. 

*' Probably you will never hear from me 



168 ^^f^ ^f 

affain, so adieu. Love to all, when you 



"&"""' 



write. W. A. C. R" 

ATTACK ON ST. MIGUEL. 

The evening of July 11, 1870, the Cubans, 
under Generals Agramonte, Marmol, Boza, 
Porro and Kyan, attacked the city of Saint 
Miguel. Major Castillo, of Eyain^'s Cavalry, 
a dashing officer, led the advance, and was 
severely wounded. The fight lasted but a 
tew minutes, the Cubans withdrawing. This 
was owing to the Artillery not coming up ac- 
cording to orders. 

On account of some misunderstanding as 
to the delay of the Artillery, General Kyan 
placed in arrest an officer of his old First 
Cavalry Cuban Liberators, now commanded 
by the gallant and intrepid Colonel Sanguilly. 
The latter protested against the arrest of his 
lieutenant. 

This infraction ot military discipline on the 
part of Colonel Sanguilly caused his arrest, 
also. Becoming very indignant at this, he 

SENT GEN. KYAN A CHALLENGE 

To fight a duel. The document General 
Ryan handed to General Agramonte, his'su- 
perior officer. To have picked up the gaunt- 
let would have laid General Ryan liable to 
that high military law he so much respected, 



Gen. Ryan. 169 

and without the most implicit obedience to 
which no efficiency could be expected from 
the army. 

This violation of military law was circum- 
navigated, however, by General Ryan, who 
had the Colonel released from arrest. 

Shortly afterward the chivalrous but im- 
pulsive Sanguilly became aware of his unin- 
tentional interference with the just act of his 
superior officer. An explanation followed, 
and the cloud passed suddenly away that 
had let fall its shadow between these true 
lances of Cuba. And it was well for the 
cause they did not meet. Both being mas- 
ters of the pistol and sabre, it is more 
than likely that one or both would have fal- 
len if Colonel Sanguilly' s hasty message had 
been accepted by General Ryait. 

MOKE SKIRMISHING-. 

The following extracts from Gen. Eyan's 
Diary will show that the Cuban troops were 
constantly under fire : 

'^ July 12th, 1870.— Had a skirmish this 
a. m., near St. Thomas. Had negro soldier 
shot to-day for deserting his post. 

''July 13th.— Col. Sanguilly ill. Men in 
good spirits. Slight skirmish. Gen. Eoza 
arrived this a. m. at 10. 

" July 14. — Early this morning had a little 
brush with the enemy. Their loss ten men ; 



170 ^ife of 

ours two. 2 p. m. — En route with dispatches 
for President Cespedes. Met the Misses 
Merondas. Splendid looking girls. Was re- 
ceived kindly by them. Had Paul Waterford 
placed under arrest for horse-stealing. 

"July 15th. — Col. Lopez Eomas scattered 
the enemy to-day near Saint Thomas. The 
weather delightful." 

WITH PRESIDENT CESPEDES. 

July 17, 1870, General Eyan reached tne 
headquarters of President Cespedes, whom 
he found in very feeble health. They dined 
together, and conversed freely about altairs 
on the Island, and the probable result of the 
Ke volution. After dinner the Secretary of 
"War and several other cabinet officers were 
announced, who greeted General Ryan hear- 
tily. They, like all the true Patriots, dearly 
loved their gallant American ally. 

Soon he was informed by Pres. Cespedes 
that it had been determined by the Camara 
(Congress) for him to return to the United 
States to co-operate with General Jordan in 
organizing a large expedition, and in placing 
Cuban matters properly before the American 
people, through their Congress. 

General Ryan was selected for this import- 
ant mission because of his connection with 
the United States army during the Rebellion, 
tind on account of his extensive acquaintance 



Gen. Ryan. y^^ 

among the most able and influential men of 
that nation. 

In every respect was Gen. Etan well qual- 
ified to discharge the duties of the important 
mission entrusted to him. His high gentle- 
manly qualifications, intelligence, courteous 
address, and genial and attractive social man- 
ners, made him a general favorite, and gave 
him the entree where influence was to be had. 

The announcement that he was to be sent 
ofiT on this mission somewhat astonished 
our hero, and caused him to ofi*er a protest, 
because he had become thoroughly imbued 
with the Insurgent cause on the Island, not- 
withstanding the life of war was one fraught 
with the most trying hardships, and had en- 
tered the bloody field with the determination 
not to leave it until the dread drama was 
over, or he had fallen on the crimsoned altar 
of poor Cuba's freedom. 

But, like a true soldier, he at last bowed 
to the will of his superiors, and listened to 
the instructions given him for his guidance 
on his new mission. 

EETUEIT TO NEW TOEK. 

On taking leave of President Cespedes and 
his Cabinet, General Ryan immediately pro- 
ceeded to the headquarters of Gen. Frederic 
Cavada, the recently appointed Commander- 
in-Chief of the Army, and his warm personal 



172 ^'^f^ ^^ 

friend. Their meeting was of the usnal cor- 
dial character. Thej freely discussed all 
matters bearing upon the mission, and deter- 
mined upon the most expeditions course to be 
followed to successfully carry out the project. 

As General Cavada was personally and 
favorably known to President Grant, having 
served faitlifully and honorably under him 
during the late Great Eebellion in the United 
States, and General B. F. Butler, and other 
distinguished gentlemen, he addressed each 
autograph letters imploring them to lend an 
ear to the statements of poor Cuba's commis- 
sioner. This done, and other necessary prep- 
arations made for the trip, a convocation of 
the prominent officers in the secret, and some 
personal friends of minor importance, was 
held, and a good social time had. 

This convivial parting over, the dashing 
young cavalier started for the coast on his 
important undertaking. 

Before leaving he had the gallant Captain 
W. S. Ashley, late of North Mississippi, ap- 
pointed Colonel of Cavalry. This gentle- 
man, as appears from General Ryan's Diary, 
has relatives in Aberdeen, Miss. Probably 
now, in 18Y6, the poor fellow's bones, like 
those of his martyr commander, are bleaching 
beneath the rays of suifering Cuba's sun. 

General Ryan received permission for his 
Chiet-of-Staif, Col. L. C. Bailey, to accom- 



Gen. Ryan. 173 

panj liim, and together thej safely reached 
the coast, under escort of Colonel Ashley. 

THE PERILOTJS TRIP. 

It would be most injudicious to relate by 
what means General Ryan succeeded in mak- 
ing his exit from the Island, because such re- 
lation would be furnishing information to the 
enemies of Cuba. It is enough to say that 
he accomplished it at the imminent risk of his 
life from the Spaniards first, the wild beasts 
of the jungle second, and the turbulent waters 
of the Gulf of Mexico third. 

To the uninitiated it would seem a great 
feat, and a matter of supreme wonder how it 
was accomplished. The author was in the 
same perplexity as the reader once. To him 
such a thing seemed without the region of 
possibilities, surrounded as the Island was, 
and is, by Spanish war vessels of almost 
every class, constantly moving about patrol- 
ling the coast. It would seem as though a 
duck could scarcely escape detection. 

ARRIVAL IN NASSAU. 

August 6, 1870, Gen. Ryan and Colonel 
Bailey, alter a hazardous journey, and many 
hairbreadth escapes from being picked up by 
Spanish cruisers, found themselves safely and 
comfortably ensconsed at the American hotel 
in Nassau, K. P.j surrounded by a number of 



17^ Life of 

delighted and astonislied friends, who greeted 
them warmly. 

On the 9th of August, after a delighttul 
stay, they left for Key West, where they ar- 
rived on the 13th, at 10 a. m. By 12 m. 
their hotel was crowded with visitors, and in 
the evening they were the recipients of a 

OEAND BANQUET, 

given by the citizens of the place and foreign 
dignitaries and visitors ; a number of United 
States Army and Navy officials being, also, 
present. 

On the 15th of An2:ust a Cuban mass- 
meeting was held, and very largely attended. 
Gen. Eyan delivered a short speech, full of 
interesting Cuban war statistics, which was 
enthusiastically received. The Spanish con- 
sul was present, and could not disguise his 
chagrin at the enthusiasm in favor of the 
Cubans. 

On the 17th of August General Ryan and 
Colonel Bailey, accompanied by a large con- 
course of admirers, stepped on board the 
steamship Ariadne and sailed for ITew York. 
Before leaving Key West Gen. Ryan tele- 
graphed his brother at Pine Bluff, Ark., to 
meet him immediately in l^ew York, at Le- 
lands' Metropolitan hotel. Col. J. G., on 
receipt of the dispatch, quietly closed his law 
books, laid aside his editorial pen, bid adieu 



Gen. Ryan, 176 

to a few friends, and ^'skimmed out," as he 
said, for the Empire city, where both arrived 
nearly simultaneously. 

ARRIVAL IN NEW YORK. 

It is hardly necessary to state that General 
E-YAN received a right royal welcome on his 
return to l^ew York, but for the information 
of those who will peruse these pages when 
the author has passed from this earthly 
sphere, he will say that the reception accord- 
ed his gallant young hero was such as would 
challenge the admiration of a jealous poten- 
tate. For several days after his arrival at 
the Metropolitan hotel his rooms were per- 
fectly packed with bewitching woman and 
gallant men— some old friends, and others 
stranger admirers — but all anxious to see the 
dashing young Cuban Patriot. 

In the hotel lobbies, on the streets or the 
avenues, in the public parks, or on the fash- 
ionable walks or drives, it was all the same, 
he was the center of attraction as his tall, fine 
form, broad-brimmed sombrero and long, cur- 
ling hair came into view. 

And among those who paid the deepest 
homage to the daring and successful soldier 
were those of the Cuban element who had 
suflered most at the hands of their implac- 
able enemies, the Spaniards. They hailed 
him at every turn to pour out their heartfelt 



tr6 Life of 

thanks for his noble efforts in their behalf, 
and aged men and women, and lovely girts 
wept tears of joy as their young bronzed- 
faced defender poured into their ears words of 
hope — that the glorious day was not far dis- 
tant when the sun would no longer set on the 
thraldom ot their beloved country. 

The brilliant reception given to the distin- 
guished General Thomas Jordan paled in- 
to common-place when compared to that ten- 
dered to Gen. Kyan by his Cuban friends, 
and the great mass of the people sympathiz- 
ing with their struggle for independence. It 
was an outpouring of gratitude bubbling up 
from the deepest depths of the Cuban heart, 
and rippling away into sweeping waves of 
impassioned feeling. JSTo illustrious man ever 
received a grander acknowledgment of a 
brave people's love. 

And our dashing hero deserved it all. 
Twenty-seven years had but just crowned his 
head with manhood. Still he stood out be- 
fore the world wreathed with a wealth of 
glory and fame seldom falling to the lot of 
the most favored of God's creatures. 

And this homage was not from the Cubans 
alone. From the representatives of most, if 
not all, of the great powers of the globe adu- 
lation was poured upon him in a constant and 
brilliant stream. Ministers, ambassadors, 
consuls, army and navy officials, and private 



Gen. Byan, 177 

citizens of wealth and distinction, were ever 
ready and anxious to greet the daring young 
"filibuster." Even the haughty Spaniard 
could not but admire the chivalrous Phil. 
Sheridan or "Jeb." Steuart of Cuban Cav- 
alry fame. And among the lovely Spanish 
ladies who graced "Washington society many 
smiled graciously upon him. One especiall}", 
whom he first met at Key West. She was a 
bewitching creature. A sweet letter of hers 
to him, found among his papers, indicated 
the strongest Platonic afi'ection. She evidently 
was a person of rare attractions, else she 
never would have attracted the following com- 
ments, copied from one of his Journals : 

THE SPANISH BEAUTY. 

u * * * Assuredly she is one of the 
.most bewitching creatures I have ever met. 
Her face is surpassingly lovely, her form and 
carriage queenly, her movements faultless 
grace, her mouth like split cherries ; her eyes 
black as night, dreamy in repose, but flash- 
ing like diamonds when under excitement. 
Her voice is beyond my powers of descrip- 
tion — full, fresh, sweet and melodious, and 
when in song is perfectly entrancing. How 
she implored me to desert the 'vile Cubans,' 
as she styled my adopted people. She de- 
picted my probable future in the most hide- 
ous colors ; and said that the garrote was 



178 Life of 

waiting to drink my blood, as it had that of 
the gray-haired martyr, General Goicouria. 
She is very loyal to her country. How- 
strange it is ! Here is this angelic creature, 
at whose teet a monarch would feel proud to 
kneel in reverence, counseling me for what 
she considers my good. Still I am not partic- 
ularly affected by her charms. My heart is 
yet my country's. Who knows! probably 
she will live to see her prediction realized as 
to my death. This I told her, and I never 
will forget the look of agony that flashed 
across her lovely face. Well, no matter. 
Time will tell. * * " 

Poor Eyan ! it is scarcely probable he then 
thought that in three short years his lifeless 
body would be trampled into the gutter by 
the iron hoofs of Spanish dragoons; brutally 
butchered in cold blood, without the sem- 
blance of a fair and impartial trial. But 
when he fell beneath the murderous fire of 
Spanish hirelings, at the nod of '^ Butcher '^'^ 
Burriel^ he pictured, in startling colors, to 
the whole world how a Cuban Patriot could 
die ; and left behind a record that those am- 
bitious for honor and fame will always love 
to emulate. 

INTEK VIEWED. 

As a natural consequence. Gen. Kyan had 
scarcely changed his battle-tattered garb for 



Gen. Ryan. 179 

that of the promenade ere the genial commis- 
sioners of the leading press called and gave 
him a hearty welcome. He was always a 
favorite with the newspaper men, and no 
man could more highly appreciate them as 
a class, nor knew the importance of their 
friendship in a cause such as he had cast his 
fortunes. He often was heard to say that if 
the newspaper men, Eeporters to begin with, 
of ]^ew York, Philadelphia, Brooklyn, New 
Orleans, Chicago, Charleston, etc., could 
have been manipulated by Spanish gold the 
death knell of Cuban independence would 
have been soimded in 1869— so far as the 
people of the United States were concerned. 
The lively Sun man was ahead of his en- 
terprising contemporaries in this instance, 
and "scooped" in the General before he 
lelt the steamship. The next morning that 
journal contained a very interesting two- 
column "interview," which gave a very 
good insight into the affairs on the Island. 
As the reader is already aware of most of the 
information gleaned by the reporter, only 
the new facts will be introduced, as follows : 

"Yes," said the General, as he and the 
knight of the quill sipped their iced wine in 
the luxurious cabin of the vessel, as she lazily 
steamed up the river, "yes, sir, our cause is 
flourishing rapidly. We now have an army 
of about 12,000 as well drilled and discip- 



180 Life of 

lined and effective troops — infantry, cavalry 
and artillery — as ever faced an enemy. We 
hold half of the Island, that part east of Pu- 
erto Principe. At times we have raided to 
within a few miles of Havana. In the Cam 
aguey District, that nearest the main body 
of the the enemy, where I have operated, the 
hardest fighting has been done. Besides 
countless skirmishes, I have been in 

*' THIRTY-THREE BATTLES 

**of considerable magnitude with my Cav- 
alry, and never lost but one of them, and 
that was where I attacked 1,500 with a force 
of scarcely 100. Still we escaped with little 
or no loss. Of course we have the advant- 
age of position. I count one of our men 
equal to 25 of the enemy. For six months I 
never slept under a roof, the country is house- 
less. What the enemy left General Cavada 
ordered destroyed, that the foe would have 
no shelter. No, the ladies do not complain 
at this hardship, they are truly Spartan in 
their devotion to the cause. Soon not a 
house will be standing in the Cinco Yillas 
District. An edict has gone forth to raze 
every one to the ground. So, in the fu- 
ture, the women and children must find shel- 
ter behind rocks and in caves. 

"it is a FEARFUL W^AE, 

**and made truly horrible by the hlack flag 



Gen. Ryan. 181 

having been swnng to the breeze by both 
sides. The Spaniards inaugurated it by the 
most ferocious acts of cruelty and hellish bar- 
barity, both upon soldiers and defenceless 
women and children, ever chronicled. But 
we make it fearfully hot for them in return. 
* * A few weeks ago the Spaniards bru- 
tally murdered our General Marmol's entire 
family, consisting of fifteen members, all wo- 
men and- children. The fate of his two beau- 
tiful daughters was frightful. The were 

'' SUBJECTED TO THE BASE LUST 

of the demon soldiers, and afterwards put to 
death. Is it possible, sir, that God will give 
victory to a flag that countenances such mon- 
strous atrocities ! Surely not. * * The 
Cubans suffer terribly. * * Yes, sir, the 



" fight splendidly. * * No man was more 
esteemed than Gen. Jordan. * * * Our 
old Federal comrade. General Cavada, and 
General Agramonte, are the rising lights of 
the Revolution. -5^ ^ * ]^ew York's gal- 
lant son, Col. Harry Reeves, if he lives, will 
make his power felt. My Chief-of-Staff, Col. 
L. C. Bailey, of Hoboken, whom you just 
met, has made an enviable record. * * * 
My mission to this country is for the purpose 
of making an efiort to induce the government 



182 Life of 

to recognize Cuba's independence, and if not 
that, then her belligerency, that we may en- 
joy the same privileges in her military ware- 
houses that are accorded to Spain. I have 

"STEOlfG LETTERS 

"to President Grant, Gen. Ben. F. Butler, 
Senator Henry Wilson, and many other 
prominent Americans, besides to the repre- 
sentatives of the governments of England 
France and Germany, urging this matter. I 
hope to accomplish much. * "^ President 
Cespedes is in such poor health that he 
may soon retire from his office. * -x- -Jf- * 
Since Gen. Jordan left the Island the dispo- 
sition of affairs have necessarily been materi- 
ally altered. The District of Santiago de 
Cuba is commanded by Major Gen. Marmol; 
Holquin by Major Gen. Julio Peralta ; Tunis 
by Major Gen. Yincente Garcia; Camaguey 
by Major Generals Agramonte and Manuel 
Koja ; Santa Esperitu by Major Gen. Garcia; 
Kemedios by Major Gen. Hernandez ; Trini- 
dad by Major Gen. Frederic Cavada ; Baya- 
mo by Major Gen. Modesto Diaz. All fine 
soldiers. * * " 

SWOKD AND FLAG PRESENTATION. 

A few days after General Ryan's return to 
N"ew York his enthusiastic Cuban friends, 
among whom were a number of ladies, gath- 



Oen. Ryan, 183 

ered at Delmonico's and presented him with 
a magnificent sword and elegant silk flag, 
as a token of their high appreciation of his 
services for the cause of their beloved 
country. Madame Yillaverde, one of Cuba's 
most patriotic daughters, delivered the ex- 
quisite presentation address. "IN^o more pa- 
triotic lady ever unfurled a banner," says 
Gen. Ryait's Diary. 

MOEE TROUBLE. 

Aug. 26, 1870, had arrived. That night 
the late Colonel Jim Fisk — so brutally mur- 
dered by Ed.. Stokes, now, in 1876, serving a 
short term in Sing Sing prison for his cow- 
ardly act — and his celebrated Ninth regiment 
ISTew York State Guards, were to give one of 
their grand balls at the magnificent Contin- 
ental hotel. Long Branch. General Eyan 
was complimented with invitations tor liim- 
self, Col. L. C. Bailey, Dr. H. T. Peck, and 
his brother, Col. J. G. At 4 p. m. the quar- 
tette stepped into a carriage at the Metropol- 
itan hotel and drove down to the steamer 
Plymouth Rock. 

Just as the party were about leaving the 
carriage TJ. S. Deputy Marshal Allen stepped 
up and informed the General that he was 

HIS PRISONER, 

and requested him to accompany him to the 



184 Life of 

U. S. Commissioner's office on Chambers 
street. At the General's invitation Marshal 
Allen took a seat in the carriage, and they 
were all driven to the court room. 

Upon inquiry, the General learned that his 
arrest was upon a warrant setting forth that 
the June previous, as will be remembered, he 
had caused the abduction of U. S. Marshal 
Downey, thereby obstructing the law. It 
was generally believed that that matter had 
been long since satisfactorily settled. Nev- 
ertheless, it was a patent fact that trouble 
was ahead lor the General, with every indi- 
cation that Spanish gold was working evil 
lor him. 

After considerable circumlocution the Gen- 
eral was arraigned before XJ. S. Commissioner 
Shields, who plead want of jurisdiction in the 
case. Finally, District Attorney Purdy sig- 
nified his willingness to shoulder the respon- 
sibility, and concluded to set the General at 
liberty on a 

BOND OF $25,000. 

This announcement perfectly astonished 
the large concourse present. The enormous 
bond was considered without a precedent, 
and strongly savoring of persecution. 

While these preliminaries were gomg on 
the General's brother left the court-room and 
was soon whirling oif in a carriage for the 



Qen. Ryaru. 185 

Bun office. On arriving there he found the 
editor, Gen. Charles A. Dana, absent. But 
Colonel Cummins was present. To him the 
situation was made known. Quietly he put 
aside his editorial proofs and stepped into the 
carriage. Tlien they drove for Judge Stuart 
and Barretson Eedfield, another attorney of 
General Eyan. In a few minutes these gen- 
tlemen entered the presence of Attorney 
Purdy, shook the General's hand, smiled up- 
on the crowd, and — made the excessive bond, 
much to the noticeable annoyance of a few 
Spanish agents who made the dark ground 
to the animated picture. 

Thus was frustrated a Spanish plot to pre- 
vent General Ryan from reaching Long 
Branch that night, where he expected to meet 
quite a number of prominent gentlemen on 
Cuban business. That there was an unseen 
and malignant influence at work was very 
evident, because the warrant had been issued 
several days, during which time Gen. Ryan 
was to be found at any hour at his hotel. 

After the bond was signed, the General 
and his friends, including a number of news- 
paper men, adjourned to Delmonico's restau- 
rant and drank Cuba's health in refreshing 
*\^ine. 

Then the General and his party resumed 
their journey, and arrived at the Branch just 
as the doors of the grand salon were being 



186 * Lift of 

thrown open, and the joys of the evening 
commencing. As they drove np to the broad 
piazza the splendid band was playing one of 
Prince Erie's favorite airs, "Tassels on her 
boots," but when Colonel Fisk discovered 
Gen. RvAN the music was suddenly changed 
to " The conquering hero comes," and when 
it became known that he was present the vast 
assemblage gave a loud cheer for Cuba, while 
countless friends gathered around to shake his 
hand. Kone was more gracious than the gal- 
lant Col. Fisk, radiant in gorgeous diamonds 
and elegant uniform. He took the General's 
arm and chaperoned him through the dense 
mass of beauty, chivalry, rich laces and ex- 
quisitely wrought, attractive and costly ap- 
parel, and at last left him in beauty's circle, 
whirling in the mazes of the entrancing and 
soul-en thraling dance. 

The ball was a magnificent affair. 

In speaking of it, a correspondent alluded 
to Gen. Ryan in tliis way: 

"The dashing General Ryan was among 
the most prominent present. He is a mag;- 
nificent looking fellow; soldierly in every 
move, and as graceful as handsome. He is 
tall, erect, and broads-houldered ; wears his 
dark-brown hair long, curling, and thrown 
carelessly back from a broad and massive 
forehead; his dark-blue eyes fairly laugh, 
and his delicately chiselled mouth curls with 



Gen, Ryan. 187 

a sncj air very attractive. It may justly be 
said that he was the focus of all the bright 
eyes of the dance. His recent war hardships 
leave no trace of pain upon his youthful but 
bronzed face. His brother, a rather inde- 
pendent, haughty, Southernized person, was 
with the General. It is said their love for 
each other is as rock-rooted as was that of 
the ' Corsican brothers.' * * *." 

THE MISSION. 

Just SO soon as General Ryan rested from 
the fatigue of his trip from Cuba he entered 
with vigor upon the business entrusted to his 
care. In this he was ably seconded by Gen. 
McMahon, President of the American Cuban 
League, Gen. Thomas Jordan, Madame Yil- 
laverde, Hon. Geo. Francis Train, the since 
murdered Hon. Mansfield Walworth, Dr. H. 
T. Helmbold, Col. Jim Fisk, and a number 
of others sympathizing with the cause. He 
presented his letters to President Grant, Gen. 
Butler, and others, and was well received 
by all. He also waited on his much valued 
friend, the late Yice President Henry Wilson, 
and Congressmen Carpenter, Yoorhees, Lo- 
gan, Banks, Cox, Butler, Morton, Blaine, 
Cavanaugh, Fenton, JSTye of ISTevada, and 
many more prominent leaders, and implored 
their aid in behalf of his suffering people. 

How well he discharged his important 



188 Life of 

office Messrs. Banks, Cavanaugh and Yoor- 
hees could well testify if so disposed to 
speak, and to refer to those '' jpajpers^ 

He left nothing undone to gain for poor 
Cuba a hearing before the great judgment 
bar of the American people. His appeals 
for sympathy being strongly indorsed by the 
JSTew York Sun, Herald and Tribune, and 
most of the leading journals of the country. 

FRANCO-IRISH SYMPATHY MEETING. 

The evening of Sept. 12, 1870, was an in- 
teresting occasion in Cooper Institute, l^ew 
York. That large hall was perfectly packed 
with men and women, assembled to express 
sympathy for the French people in their war 
with Germany. The audience was princi- 
pally composed of Irish and French, with a 
sprinkling of Americans and Cubans. The 
rostrum was beautifully festooned with the 
American, French, Irish and Cuban flags. 
Eminent orators were present, and General 
Ryan was among the invited guests. He ap- 
peared on behalf of struggling Cuba, and 
when called upon delivered a speech that elec- 
trified the audience, and drew forth pro- 
longed shouts that '' Cuba must be free." 

In this effective manner he was influencing 
those who represented the people in the na- 
tional legislature, that they might soon decide 
to recognize Cuba as a sister republic. 



Gen. Ryan. 189 

Again he unfurled the red white and blue 
lone star flag where he could touch the na- 
tion's heart, and hear its patriotic throbs. It 
was on the occasion of the 

FAEEAGUT FUNEEALa 

Sept. 30, 18Y0, a day occupying at least one 
indelible page in the nation's history, for it 
witnessed the consignment to their last rest- 
ing place of the mortal remains of the immor- 
tal Admiral Farragut, the kelson of the Amer- 
ican navy, and a man without a peer as a pa- 
triot, soldier, and noble gentleman. Among 
the sincere mourners was Gen. Ryajst. Not- 
withstanding the drenching rain, frightful 
lightning and crashing thunder of the fearfully 
gloomy day, he was out assisting at the 
sacred ceremonies, with the Cuban flag 
draped in black. Dr. H. T. Helmbold gen- 
erously tendered his magnificent six-in-hand 
for him and party, consisting of Generals 
Saiford and Holmes, and Colonels L. C. 
Bailey and J. G. Ryan. Commenting on the 
procession the JSTew York Bun said : 

'' The only turnout in the procession whose 
occupants dared lace the pitiless storm was 
the carriage containing the Cuban represen- 
tatives. The Cuban flag waved gracefully 
over the heads of its supporters, and as it 
passed the several regiments of ISTew York 
troops they saluted it by presenting arms, a 



190 Life of 

mark of respect of which our government 
should take notice." 



SECOND ANNIVEKSAEY OF CUBAN INDEPENDENCE. 

October 10, 1870, the Cubans in IsTew York 
celebrated the second anniversary ot the un- 
furling of the flag of independence at Yara, 
by President Cespedes, and others. It was 
held in Cooper Institute, and was a grand oc- 
casion. Senor Matre presided, and speeches 
were made by Generals Jordan, McMahon 
and Ryan, and Senors Don Jose Mester, 
Cuban Commissioner to the United States ; 
Padre Jose Palma, a priest ot the Spanish 
Episcopal church ; Jose Maria Cespedes, Dr. 
F. Ruz, Jose de Arma, Col. Enrique Agra- 
monte, and M. Petil, a French gentleman. 
Amid the booming of artillery, martial mu- 
sic, fluttering of flags, and shouts of the ex- 
cited multitude, the ceremonies commenced. 
Reports said that for a long time Gen. Ryan 
remained hid from view, behind festoons of 
flags, enjoying the scene with Miss Fannie 
A. Lockrow, and other ladies. But soon his 
name rang out high above all other sounds ; 
and the '* fighting General," as he was 
stjded, had to step forward and deliver an ad- 
dress, which he did in a masterly style, and 
called forth such thunders of applause as to 
convince the most sceptical that he had a 
bright place in the pure Cuban heart. 



Gen. Ryan. 191 

THE HORNET EXPEDITION". 

"While the uninitiated imagined that Gcqu. 
Rtan was devoting the waning smnmei* and 
autumn to dashing around among society 
belles, he was in reality exercising his active 
brain devising plans for another expedition, 
which was afterward so nationally known as 
that of the lamous steamer Hoi-net, which 
was just then released from United States 
custody. When she was secretly chartered 
she was ordered to Aspinwall to await the 
arrival of the steamer Ocean Queen, on which 
General Ryan was to sail. 

When the time arrived to leave, General 
Ryan designedly let the Spanish spies hear 
that he was going oft on the steamer Morro 
Castle. Yalise in hand he stepped into a 
carriage in front of the Metropolitan hotel, 
and was leisurely driven to the vessel. 
Jauntingly he walked up the gang plank, bid 
the "porter" adieu, and entered the cabin. 

This porter was the driver who, it will be 
remembered, figured in the Marshal Downey 
escapade in June 1869. She was still faithful 
to her trust. 

In a few minutes after going on the steamer 
Gen. Ryan left it, disguised as a laborer, and 
quietly walked off in the direction of Broad- 
way, where he rejoined the "porter." Two 
days later he sailed for Aspinwall on the 
Ocean Queen. 



193 Life of 

If Gen. Etan had left on the Morro Castle 
the Spanish authorities would have had him 
arrested at Charleston, S. C. 

AT ASPINWALL. 

. Dec. 12, 1870, the Ocean Queen arrived at 
Aspinwall, with Gen. Ryan on board. 

From notes in his Diary, it is evident the 
General was disappointed in not finding the 
number of men and munitions of war that 
he expected. And besides this, the steamer 
Hornet was behind time. 

While awaiting the Hornet's coming, to 
take the men and munitions to Cuba, General 
Ryan took a trip across the Isthmus to Pan- 
ama. While there his presence created con 
siderable excitement, the natives thinking he 
was about to inaugurate a revolution, a not 
uncommon, but very frequent occurrence in 
that region. 

On his return to Aspinwall, Christmas day, 
the General had his men marshalled before 
his hotel, Betancourt, the American and 
Cuban flags thrown to the breeze, and a vol- 
ley of rejoicing fired. This amusement re- 
newed the rumors set afloat at Panama, and 
soon a large body of armed natives gathered, 
and commenced an attack upon the revellers. 
Quite a number of shots were fired before the 
disturbance was quelled, which was only 
brought about through the agency of Mr, 



Gen. Ryan. 193 

Crampton, the British consuL Fortunately 
no one was seriously injured. 

While in Aspinwall General Ryan was a 
special guest at a magnificent Masonic levee, 
and was in other respects handsomely treated 
by the residents of the city. 



Dec. 29, 1870, the '' lightning" Hornet 
arrived at Aspinwall, the expedition was 
placed on board, and on the 31st she departed 
for the Island of Cuba. 

On the 5th of January, 1871, the vessel's 
boiler's needing repairs, she put into Port 
Triburon, or Shark Bay, on the Haytian 
coast, 160 miles from Port au Prince. 

Here an amusing incident occurred. While 
the repairs were going on G-eneral Ryan, the 
Captain of the vessel, and the General's aids, 
took a stroll into the little, dilapidated town 
at the head of the bay. As they left the mud 
pier they were halted by a dusky soldier in 
a garb inferior to and umbrella struck by 
lightning. The antique oracle propounded a 
thousand and one questions, at the same time 
looking at the new-comers suspiciously. The 
piece of consequence was no less a person 
than the commandant of the place. This in- 
formation was gleaned by Gen. Ryan saying, 
in answer to the uncouth fellow's impudent 
questions : 



194 Life of 

" Well, now, who in h — 1 are you? " 
'' I iz de guvment," was the reply. 
This astounding information was accom- 
panied with the assertion that the party must 
ogo with him to the headquarters of the 
eoHjraanding General, which they did. That 
iunctionary, when he learned the cause of 
tlieir presence on his territory, treated them 
courteously. However, while they were sip- 
ping a glass of Madeira with him some of 
the men on the vessel discharged a howitzer. 
This created the greatest consternation, and 
for a time 

JEOPARDIZED THEIR LIVES, 

for the natives rapidly assembled, thinking 
the place was being bombarded, and fiercely 
threatened their deaths, unless the attack was 
immediately stopped. At last things were 
quieted, a friendl}^ parting took place, and 
the amused sight-seekers returned to the 
vessel, which soon steamed for Cuba. 



NEARLY CAPTURED. 

January 7, 1871, the Hornet sighted 
Cuba. She was under a full head of steam 
and all sail set at the time, and making for 
her intended port like lightning, when boom, 
boom, boom, thundered forth from a Spanish 
vessel hid from view behind a rocky point, 



Gen. Ryan. 195 

and the shot came whistling through her rig- 
ging, creating considerable arm. 

Quick as a flash the Captain ordered the 
vessel's course changed. She spun around 
like a top, and darted aw^y like the wind, 
while the heavy iron from the enemy's can- 
non plowed the waters in her wake. 

It was a narrow escape. 

THE LAl^DING. 

At 11 o'clock that same night anchor was 
cast near Puenta Brava, and the situation on 
shore reconnoitered. Everything appearing 
safe, a landing of the expedition was effected, 
and by daylight of January 8, 1871, it was on 
its way to the Insurgent headquarters. 

POET AU PRINCE, HAYTI. 

She having fulfilled her mission. Gen. Eyai7 
ordered the Hornet into safe quarters, and 
on the 10th of January she steamed into Port 
au Prince, and anchored near the United 
States war vessel Severn. 

While Gen. Ktak was with the Hornet at 
Port au Prince the Spanish minister endeav- 
ored to induce Admiral Lee to seize her. But 
that gaUant officer refused to do so, unless 
ordered by United States Consul Bassett. 
And the latter was firm in his px)sition that 
he had no such authority to give. 



196 Life of 

When this failed, the Spaniards of the war 
vessel Isabella Catolica made a plot to seize 
the Hornet, but it died in its infancy, because 
of the presence of the Severn. 

BACK TO NEW YOEK. 

Gen. Ktan having accomplished his mis- 
sion returned to ISTew York, where he safely 
arrived on the 6th of February, 1871. On 
reaching the great metropolis he was waited 
on by 2^ Sun reporter, to whom he emphati- 
cally denied the report of the Spaniards that 
he, or any friends of Cuba, had intended 
seizing the steamer Ocean Queen and con- 
verting her into a Cuban privateer. But the 
Spaniards still contended that such was the 
case. 

PEOaRESS OF THE CUBAN WAR. 

Ever since General Ryan left the Island up 
to the landing of the Hornet expedition the 
struggle was continued to be prosecuted in 
the most vigorous manner, each day's bloody 
work strengthening the cause ot the suifering 
Insurgents. Quite a number of changes had 
taken place. On the Spanish side Captain 
General DeRodas had been laid on the shelf 
and Count Yalmaseda placed in his stead. 
This occurred Dec. 10, 1870. On the Insur- 
gent side death, sickness and resignations 
caused many alterations. Gen. Diaz was in 
command of the East, with Generals Gomez, 



Gen. Ryan. 197 

Inclan and Figuerdo commanding Divisions. 
Gen. Garcia Chief of Camagney, with Gen- 
erals Agramonte and Yega commanding Div- 
isions. Gen. Casanova commanding the de- 
partment of Las Yillas, "with Generals Juan 
Yillegas, Yillamil, Kuloif and Hernandez 
Division commanders. The forces, all told, 
nnder these officers numbered about 11,000 
tried and true warriors, always ready for the 
terrible strife. 

THE ILLUSTKIOUS DEAD. 

Up to February, 1871, among the illustri- 
ous dead who fell for Cuba's sake were the 
following. Some died in the heat of battle, 
others were made prisoners and butchered, 
while many were taken to Havana or Santi- 
ago de Cuba and executed by the garrote^ an 
instrument of torture and death resembling a 
barber's chair. Into this the victim is placed, 
his arms and legs bound fast, an iron band 
placed around his neck, to which a screw is 
affixed. This is gradually turned with a 
crank, and his life squeezed out. This was 
the fate of the first one on the roll of honor, 
as annexed. AH were strong friends of Gen. 
Ryan, and it was with feelings of sadness he 
used to refer to the missing roll. Here fol- 
lows the list : 

General Goicuria, General Marmol, Leon 
Medina, Gen. F. Aguero, Colonel Angarica, 



198 Life of 

Antonio Jiminez, H. Castillo, Colonels Por- 
tuondo, Medal, Garcia, Mercedes Yarona, 
Y. GoicTiria, O. Cespedes, G. Guitteras, Col. 
Figuerdo, Luis Arudondo, Luis Aguera, A. 
CastiJlo, Maria Guerra, General Arango, and 
Luis Aysteran. 

On one occasion, at a commemoration ser- 
vice. Gen. Ryan made an address, in which 
he referred to the fallen Patriots as follows : 

'-'- My friends, the holy duty we perform is 
no more than what is due the memory of 
those noble souls who, to-day, look doMm up- 
on us from their grand celestial home among 
the angels, ^o honor we can confer upon 
their memory will add to their glorious 
records. As patriots they lived and as mar- 
tyrs they died, and the dews of Lleaven never 
fell softly upon more hallowed graves. And 
it is our sacred duty to live and die as they 
have done, that future gatherings like these 
may strew flowers upon our last resting 
places, as we do upon theirs, and to rejoice 
in tears of sorrow and pride ; in sorrow, be- 
cause we are gone forever ; and in pride, be- 
cause we died as only martyrs die who draw 
the sword for liberty." 

Poor Ryan ! probably then a chill of the 
future stole softly over his soul. But if there 
did, it came unnoticed by the great heart 
whose throbbing it would still. 



Gen. Ryan. 199 

MONTANER, THE OUTLAW. 

Among the most noted, infamous and cruel 
of the Spanish cut-throats was the human 
fiend Montaner, commander of a band of gue- 
rillas. Ko deed was too dastardly for him to 
perpetrate, and no obstacle too formidable 
for him to attempt to surmount. He was as 
desperate and courageous as he was inhuman 
and devilish. His deeds were horrible, and 
he delighted in the foulest murders. 

This wretch had a great desire to meet 
Generals Kyan and the gallant " Bembetta " 
Yarona in action, a feeling that was heartily 
reciprocated bj them. General Etan never 
met him, but Yarona did on two occasions. 
In the first place Montaner came near cap- 
turing him while an invalid from wounds, 
and sojourning with his friend Cristobal 
Mendoza, residing near Puerto Principe. 
Fortunately, however, he received news of 
the raid just in time to escape. But his 
friend Mendoza was wounded, captured, taken 
to Puerto Principe, and murdered J^ovember 
28, 1870. 

This cowardly act determined Gen. Yarona 
to seek Montaner and wipe him out of exist- 
ence. In a few adys Col. Harry Keeves suc- 
ceeded in drawing the outlaws into a trap, 
and 

MONTANER WAS KILLED. 

The contest was short, but fierce. The 



200 Life of 

outlaw chief died hard, and iiot until his 
gleaming sabre had described a circle of 
death around liim. While he was closely 
pressing Yarona, the latter' s orderly, a brave 
and faithful negro, put a pistol to his head 
and blew out his brains. Then his band pre- 
cipitately fled. G-en. Yarona received the 
guerilla's sword, and sent it to New York to 
General Eyai^ as a trophy. 

When Montaner fell, one ot the most dev- 
ilish brutes that ever disgraced humanity 
passed out of existence. 

APPEAL TO THE UNITED STATES FOR RECOG- 
NITION. 

Affairs now looking so promising for the 
Cubans, it was considered politic to brin^ the 
matter of their recn^rnition before the United 
States Congress. The effort was made, but 
it signally failed, notwithstanding the hercu- 
lean efforts of the late Yice President Wilson, 
and Hons. Dan Yoorhees, S. S. Cox, K. P. 
Banks, and delegate Cavanaugh of Montana, 
in behalf of the move. This indifferent ac- 
tion of Congress greatly surprised the great 
body of the American people who were anxi- 
ous to see Cuba freed from Spanish thraldom. 



When the recognition scheme failed before 
Congress, General Eyan suddenly appeared 



Gen. Ryan. 201 

before the public as the publisher and head of 
a first-class journal called Our Society^ pub- 
lished in ]^ew York, and devoted specially to 
the movements ot hon ton society. This un- 
expected change from the sword of war to 
the pen ot* peace was the cause of consider- 
erable astonishment and comment on the 
part of the general public. But their curios- 
ity was soon satisfied when Spanish spies fer- 
reted out the fact that the paper was purchas- 
ed for the purpose of keeping the Cuban 
cause properly before the wealthy and influ- 
ential of the nation. 

While conducting this paper, which was 
considered one of the most elegantly gotten 
up in the world, General Rya^^ became in- 
volved in a suit at law with O. D. Taylor, a 
Wall street banker. During the investigation 
of the case, which was decided in lavor ot 
General Kyan, Taylor's attorney. Col. Robt. 
N. Waite, reflected unwarrantably upon the 
General, who immediately resented the insult 
by attempting to slap his face. This act in- 
duced the doughty Colonel 

TO CHALLENGE GEN. KTAN 

to fight a duel. This was accepted, and Gen. 
Ryan sent his friend, Capt. John W. Fentou, 
to the Colonel's friend, Dr. Wm. J. Pursell, 
to arrange for the meeting, having directed 
him to name Colt's navy, and to advance 



202 Life of 

after first the fire. However, no meeting took 
place. Colonel Waite would not fight, nor 
apologize. So General Kyan published him 
in the papers as a "coward and paltroon." 
This occurred in September 1871. 

In December, 18T4, the author had the 
pleasure of meeting Capt. Fenton in Wash- 
ington, D. C. In referring to this affair he 
said : 

"Sir, Gen. Ryan was the embodiment of 
honor. He never gave, nor would he tamely 
brook an insult. His ideas of satisfaction be- 
tween gentlemen partook of the old school of 
chivalry, and he observed its laws jealously. 
I knew him ever since he was a mere boy in 
the 132nd ISTew York volunteers, fighting for 
the Union. And from that time until he fell 
a victim to Spanish tyranny I never knew him 
to do an ungejitlemanly act. He was an ex- 
traordinary young man, and if he had lived 
there is no telling what glories would have 
encircled his brow. * *." 

The middle of 1872 General Ryan with- 
drew from Out Society ^ it having accomplish- 
ed its purpose. 

DEATH OF GENERAL OAVADA. 

Before retiring from the tripod it was Gen. 
Ryan's painful office to record the murder of 
his gallant comrade General Frederic Cavada, 
one of the bravest souls that ever drew a 



Gen. Ryan. 203 

sword for liberty. He fell wounded at the 
head of his men, was captured, and shot on 
the 1st of July, 1871, notwithstanding the 
protests of the prominent officials of the 
United States, President Grant included. A 
fact that proved conclusively at what a dis- 
count the Spaniards rated the government of 
uncle Sam. The dashing Cavada's dying 
words were : 

''My only regret is that I have not just 
such a life to ofter up each and every day un- 
til the freedom of my persecuted country is 
established. I have not asked for pardon, 
and would not accept it at Cuba's dishonor. 
Cuba must be free." 

Like Marshal Key, he died with his face to 
the foe, and a smile on his bronzed and bat- 
tle-scarred face. Cavada and Ryan, Varona, 
Agramonte, Martinez, Arango, Marmol, Go- 
icuria and Aguera, were strong friends, and 
they all fell like heroes. 

ANOTHER EFFORT FOE RECOGNITION. 

In February, 1872, General Ryan made an- 
other effort to induce the United States to 
even accord to Cuba belligerent rights. A 
carefully prepared statement of facts upon 
which the appeal was based was gotten up 
by Cuban Commissioners Francisco Y. Agui- 
lera and Ramon Cespedes. and laid upon the 
desk of every Congressman. Congressmen 



204 Life of 

Yoorhees of Indiana, Myers of Pennsylvania, 
:N'ye of Nevada, Cox of l^ew York, Banks of 
Massachusetts, and others, again raised their 
patriotic voices and poured forth their elo- 
quence in behalf of down-trodden Cuba. But, 
alas ! this effort, too, failed, and those bat- 
tling for liberty were left to struggle on with- 
out a hope of succor from a government, the 
people of which fully sympathized with their 
cause. 

In the full belief that this appeal to 
Congress would prove successful the promin- 
ent Cubans organized themselves into a huge 
bank, and had issued millions of dollars in 
bonds, for the redemption of which private 
estates were pledged. 

While the question of recognition was be- 
ing discussed in Congress, one Capt. Francis 
L. Norton gained a little cheap notoriety by 
attacking the position of General Banks 
through the JSTew York Express. Perhaps 
Spanish gold stimulated his pen. 

The speeches of Messrs. Yoorhees and 
Banks on this occassion were ponderous, log- 
ical and convincing, and did great honor to 
their heads and hearts, as well as credit to 
the great body of liberty-loving Americans, 
and elevated them to enviable places in the 
breasts of every freeman throughout this glo- 
rious land. 

Mr. Yoorhees supported his position by 



Gen. Ryan. 205 

stating that the Spaniards had on seven occa- 
sions torn down and trampled upon the stars 
and stripes, and that at least four hrilliant 
Americans had been fiendishly tortured to 
death at their hands on the 10th of June, 
18Y0. These being Majors C. B. Collins and 
G. H. Harrison, and Captains K. B. Moody 
and G. P. Strong. And the offense they 
were guilty of being merely that committed 
by Lafayette, Steuben and De alb when 
they espoused the cause of the American 
Colonies in their struggle against Great 
Britain. 

In this movement, as usual. General Ryan 
acted a vigorous and untiring part. He was 
then on duty in Washington. 

In speaking of the energy and ability of 
General Eyan in favor of Cuba, the late Yice , 
President, Henry Wilson, said : 

"I believe no truer patriot ever espoused 
the cause of liberty. In this struggle for re- 
cognition of Cuba's independence by this na- 
tion no man could have worked more zealous- 
ly ; and it is a sad thing that he has failed in 
his noble purpose." 

THE CINCINNATI CONVENTION. 

At the celebrated Republican Reform Con- 
vention of 18Y2, by which Horace Greeley 
was made a national target to be shot at by 
both Democrats and Republicans, Gen. Ryan 



206 Life of 

was selected to represent the Cuban cause. 
He was warmly welcomed by the members of 
that honorable body, and permitted to pro- 
claim to its members the wrongs heaped up- 
on that suffering people by tyrant Spain. His 
speech was well received, and resolutions 
introduced favoring the recognition of Cuba's 
right to be free and independent. A synopsis 
of this address was telegraphed all over the 
country, and published in full in the Balti- 
more Evening Journal^ Col. E. M. Yerger's 
able paper. The Colonel was a staunch 
friend of Cuba, but now he sleeps beneath 
the willows. 

THE FANNIE EXPEDITION. 

While the fight for recognition was going 
on in Washington, Generals Aguilera and 
Cespedes were organizing an expedition of 
arms and men to send to Cuba. When alJ 
was in readiness Gen. Ryan was telegraphed 
to hasten to New York to take charge of it, 
and to see it safely landed. 

Monday, June 3, the telegram reached 
him, and by next morning he was at the mag- 
nificent Gilsey house up on Broadway, New 
York. 

He met Generals Aguilera, Cespedes, Cis- 
neros, Yarona, and others, at breakfast, and 
conversed with them about the expedition. 

On account of some difiiculty as to the 



Gen. Ryan. 207 

ship's papers, the party did not get off until 
the 6th of Jnne, 1872. The evening of that 
day General Cisneros and one of Gen. Ryait's 
aids called for him at Knickerbocker Club, 
and the three drove to Pier 20, where they 
met Gen. Aguilera and Senor Aldama. At 
10 o'clock Gen. Ryan and the other expedi- 
tionists went aboard ot the steamer Seth Low 
and sailed out of the bay. 

General Ryan's Diary says that on that oc- 
casion the expedition ''lost thirty -five good 
men through the rascality ol Captain Brown 
the sailing master." 

At 11 p. m., June 7, 1872, they met the 
C. L. Herrick, with arms and munitions on 
board. To her a transfer was made from the 
Seth Low, and the vessels parted company 

The weather was raw and rough, according 
to General Ryan's notes, and by the third 
day nearly all the party were sick. 

However, the General seems to have been 
in good spirits, his Journal being well 
sprinkled with careless and hmnorous re- 
marks. The morning of June 8th he says : 

"Last night slept on the soft side of a 

plank and covered with the 8un^ Herald and 

Tribune. It rained during the night, and I 

woke up as wet as a ' biled ' dish rag. Am 

fearfully sick, and most of our party ditto." 

June 9th they came up with the John Drill 
and G. L. Howard having war supplies 



208 Life of 

whicli were as rapidly as possible absorbed 
by the Herrick. 

THE STEAMER FANNIE. 

At midnight of the 9th they sighted the 
steamer Fannie, which was to land the expe- 
dition on the Island, and were soon alongside 
her. 

The expedition was soon transferred to her 
and she then headed for her destination. 

General Eyan dotted the following in his 
Jom-nal June 16, 18Y2: 

"Last night the weather M^as fearfuL Old 
sailors thought we would be food for fishes. 
The waves rolled mountain high, and the 
wind was terrific. The Fannie is a regular 
old tub, and great indignation is felt at Capt. 
Brown for recommending such a miserable 
hulk. If a Spanish cruiser sights us we are 
gone up. Men sick, and grumbling about 
fresh water and spirits. Am hardly able to 
do duty." 

"June 18. — Sudden change in weather. 
Beautiful sunset this eve ; never saw any- 
thing so lovely. Old Sol went westward in 
a chariot of burnished gold, and left the 
clouds gilded with a halo of glory." 

attempted assassination 
On the morning of June 20, 1872, an at- 



Gen. Ryan. 209 

tempt was made to murder General Ryan. 
He had been very sick during the night, and 
had fallen into a quiet sleep about 4 o'clock. 
He had scarcely become oblivious when he 
was awakened by feeling a sharp, cold sting in 
his left side. Being scarcely able to move he 
aroused his orderly, and investigated the mat- 
ter. His clothes were found slit open for six 
inches across his side, near the left breast, 
and blood trickling from a wound correspond- 
ing in length. The Surgeon was imme- 
diately summoned. Upon examination the 
wound was found to be of no serious charac- 
ter. But if it had not been that the instru- 
ment of the assassin first struck the Masonic- 
military medal on his jacket that was thrown 
over him, there is scarcely a doubt that the 
steel would have done its work well. E'ot- 
withstanding that every measure was insti- 
tuted for that purpose, no clue was ever dis- 
covered as to the would-be murderer, save 
that when the Fannie landed two of her crew 
deserted. 

That the plot originated in l^ew York, and 
was known to some one who wished General 
Byan well, was evidenced by the fact that as 
he was going down the pier the evening he 
left a person dressed as an apple girl, no 
doubt a disguise, handed him a note, which he 
thrust into his pocket, intending to read it as 
soon as he got on board the vessel. After 
the attempt on his life he thought of the note 



210 Life of 

and found it a warning, which read as 
follows : 

"General, beware of the assassin. Ke- 
member there is a reward of $40,000 for your 
death. Be always on the alert. 

"A Friend." 

]N"o doubt this was warning of an infamous 
Spanish plot to deprive the Cubans of their 
great American ally, the man who dared re- 
taliate upon their enemies for the devish cru- 
elties practiced upon them. 

THE LANDING. 

June 21, at 2 p. m., an attempt was made 
to land the expedition, but tbe threatening 
proximity of a Spanish war vessel made a 
change necessary, and the Fannie stood out 
from shore. 

At 9 o'clock at night she went to open sea, 
it not being safe to land at Sagua. 

After beating about until June 23, the ex- 
pedition was finally landed at 3 in the morn- 
ing, at Bird Rock. 

In attempting to make a landing close to 
the shore, the vessel was run fast on the 
rocks. 

On June 24:th Gen. Feralta started to the 
interior with the expedition. Before leaving 
he and the Surgeon insisted on General Ryan 
returning to the States until he recovered his 



Gen. Ryan, 2li 

health. Being in such feehle health, and 
knowing it would be months ere he could do 
field duty, he concluded to take the Surgeon's 
advice. 

That evening the Fannie was set on fire, 
and General Kyan, the Captain and crew- 
took the small boats and started for ISTassau. 
The weather became very stormy, and they 
were tossed about until June 2Tth, when they 
were picked up by the schooner Charles and 
taken to their destination. 

June 29th they arrived in IS'assau, where 
General Etan was heartily welcomed by his 
many friends, among whom were Colonel 
Chance, and Mr. — Sargent and family. 

On the 1st of July the steamer Crescent 
City arrived at J^assau, and General Etan 
went on board of her. The Captain, whom 
the General called an impudent puppy, order- 
ed him oif, and became terribly excited, fear- 
ing that the fact of allowing the noted Cuban 
Chief on his decks would militate against him 
when he reached Havanna. 

July 9th, while General Eyan was dining 
with those noble Cubans, Mrs. and General 
Quesada, a Spanish report reached him that 
the Fannie expedition had been captured, and 
all the men killed. This turned out to be 
a false rumor. 

AT KEY WEST. 

July 11th General Eyan left Nassau for 



212 Life of 

Key "West on the schooner Express, and ar- 
rived there July 14th, at 12 m. He received 
a warm reception from his Cuban friends and 
the officers ot the American army and navy. 
During his stay he dined on board the United 
States war vessel Kansas, with Capt. Halfield, 
Lieut. White and Paymaster Beemish, three 
splendid gentlemen. 

July 13th the General left for Cedar Keys 
on the steamer Tappatuck(?), Capt. C. W. 
Reed, and arrived there the evening of July 
20tb. With him was a professed English 
capitalist, named Wm. Anderson, who sub- 
sequently victimized him and a number of 
people in Charleston and Savannah. 

RETURN TO WASHINGTON". 

From Cedar Keys General Ryan returned 
to Washington, via Atlanta, Ga. At the 'lat- 
ter city he tarried for a little rest, and his 
Journal mentions how kindly he was treated 
by the "noble-hearted Southerners of that 
war-battered place." 

He arrived in Washington July 24th, and 
was met by his friend Capt. John W. Fenton 
at the depot with a carriage, who had him 
driven to his hotel, the Metropolitan, on 
Pennsylvania Avenue. Shortly after his ar- 
rival his rooms were crowded with a host of 
admiring friends, who sympathized with him 
in his afflicted condition. 



Gen. Ryan. 213 

It was months before he entirely recovered 
from his sickness and the wound made by the 
dastardly assassin. 

During Gen. Eyan's illness Capt. Brown, 
who commanded the Fannie, made a wanton 
attack upon him in the ISTew York Bun, in 
which he accused him of cowardice in not 
remaining on the Island contrary to the advice 
of the Surgeon and Gen. Queralta. 

General Ryan's reply to this slander was 
a scathing indictment of Capt. Brown as an 
enemy to Cuba, and a vile tool in the hands 
of the base Spaniards. The charges were so 
well supported by facts as to his treachery 
that he had to subside into ignominious 
silence, outside of endeavoring to shoulder 
the responsibility of his outrage against Gen. 
Ryan upon Senor Aid am a, because at the 
tiine a little coolness existed between the lat- 
ter and Gen. Ryan, on account of the Gen- 
eral being a partisan of Gen. Quesada. 

LETTER FKOM COL. HAREY REEVES. 

On the 20th of September, 18Y2, Colonel 
Harry Reeves wrote General Ryan along and 
very interesting letter, which was published 
in the New York Herald. It was written at 
Cavalry headquarters, Yista Hermosa, and 
gave a complete review of the terrible strug- 
gle since the General left the Island. Its 
tone was very hopeful. The Colonel said 



214 Life oj 

that the army, and especially the Cavalry, 
was very anxious for the "devil's" return. 

On account of General Ryan's reckless 
daring in battle he earned the sobriquet of 
devil^ which clung to him throughout his ca- 
reer on the Island. 

The letter also hoped that the report was 
true that the dashing General Kilpatrick was 
going to espouse the cause of Cuba. 

This letter was written on all sorts of 
scraps of paper, with pencil, and ink made 
from berries. It is quite a curiosity, and is 
now in the possession of Col. J. Geo. Ryan, 
the General's brother. 

ANOTHER JEALOUS SLANDEE. 

While to the public things seemed to be 
working harmoniously between the Cubans 
and their friends in New York the country 
was suddenly startled by a card in the public 
press denouncing General Ryan as a traitor 
to the cause of Cuba, and professing to act 
in her behalf without having the shadow of 
proper authority so to do. This slanderous 
document emanated from one S. M. Mayorga 
the interpreter of Sen or s F. Y. Aguilera and 
Ramon Cespedes, Cuban Commissioners to 
the United States, and during their tempor- 
ary absence from JN^ew York, and was with- 
out the semblance of authority. 

It would be a difficult task to describe the 



Gen, Ryan, 215 

astonisliment and anger of the General when 
he read the malicious slander. But as quick 
as possible he published a reply denouncing 
Mayorga as an infamous, lying, usurping, 
pretentious, jealous, mean scoundrel, who 
had presumed upon his hireling position to 
exert powers not delegated to his masters, and 
only vested in the Cuban Congress, by whose 
direct authority he, Ryan, was acting. 

This scathing epistle fell heavily upon the 
head of Mayorga, who was immediately dis- 
missed from his position on the return of the 
Commissioners. 

General Ryan was so outraged at May- 
orga' s villainy that he threatened to go to 
New York and horse-whip him, which he 
would have done had he not apologized in the 
fullest manner. 

Mayorga died in I^ew York shortly after 
General Ryan was murdered. He was gen- 
erally believed to have been a strong friend 
of Cuba* aside from his petty jealousy oi^ 
some of his superiors. 

It must be borne in mind that these per- 
sonal difficulties never for a moment inter- 
fered with the glorious work in favor of poor 
Cuba's independence. 

THE EDGAR STUART EXPEDITION. 

The next expedition after that of the Faii- 
nie was the famous Edgar Stuart, which was 



216 Lift of 

organized bj Generals Quesada and Kyan, 
and Colonel Aguera, the latter conducting it 
to Cuba, where it was safely landed about the 
middle of January, 1873. It was one of the 
finest organized. On his return from the 
dangerous adventure, the gallant Colonel re- 
ceived a grand ovation from his many friends 
'n JNTew York. 

AN APPEAL TO THE NEGROES. 

So that nothing might be left undone to at- 
tract the attention of the Congress ot* the 
United States towards Cuba, General Ryan 
made a strong appeal, in January, 1873, to 
the negroes of the District of Columbia in 
behalf of those who, when they unflurled 
their banner against Spanish tyranny, struck 
the chains from the limbs ot half a million 
of God's creatures and declared them forever 
free. This was ably seconded by Hon. Fred. 
Douglas, and published in the New National 
Era of Washington, D. C, a journal edited 
by Mr. Douglas in the interest of the colored 
people of all nations. This had the effect of 
bringing about a large mass meeting, but 
through the free use of Spanish gold it was 
made to work inharmoniously. In conse- 
quence of this the whole matter fell lifeless 
to the ground, and Congress adjourned with- 
out giving the situation in Cuba more than a 
Dassing notice. 



Gen. Hyan. 217 

DEATH OF GEN. laNACIO AaEAMONTE. 

In March, 1873, Gen. Rya:n^ lost a strong 
friend, and Cuba one of her truest patriots 
and bravest defenders, by the death of the 
noble, fearless and chivalric General Ignacio 
Agramonte, the 1 (r>'c Commai de -in-Chief 
of Camaguey. He died while figiiting at the 
head of his men, pierced by countless bullets. 
His body feel into the hands of the enemy, 
who mutilated it horribly, poured coal oil 
over it, and reduced it to a cinder by fire. l\\ 
a letter published in the Pine Bluff, Arkansas, 
Bepiiblican^ General Ryan spoke of his old 
comrade in. the most glowing terms, elevating 
him to the highest pinnacle of bravery and 
fame. He was the first man to raise the 
flag" of freedom in Camaguey, October 1868, 
simultaneously with the Cespedes uprising at 
Yara. His loss was a very serious blow to 
poor Cuba. 

THE MYSTERIOUS SPANISH LADY. 

One day in June, 1873, General Eyan re- 
ceived an anonymous letter, in a lady's chi- 
rography, requesting him to meet the writer 
at the postoffice at 5 p. m., and stating that he 
would recognize her by a parcel in her hand 
tied with broad blue ribbon. Seeing no par- 
ticular harm in such a step, he determined to 
meet the author of the perfumed missive, 
and at the precise hour stepped into the 



S18 Life of 

office, and, as his Journal says, ''met one of 
the most beautiful and queenly creatures that 
ever eyes beheld." They met as friends, and 
left the office chatting gaily. The lady led 
the way to the corner of Seventh and Gr 
streets, where they entered a carriage and 
drove to Georgetown, and stopped at a cozy 
little cottage, into which they went. 

When they were seated in the handsomest 
of parlors, inhaling the sweet fragrance of 
lovely flowers, and refreshing themselves 
with delicious iced wine, the lady disclosed 
to General Ryaj^ that she was the wife of a 
high Spanish official; that by means of a 
letter to her husband she had learned that 
the Spanish authorities had a number of very 
shrewd and unscrupulous spies on his (Gen. 
Ryan's) every action by night and day; that 
they were cognizant of his present plans for a 
large expedition to Cuba ; and that they 
would most certainly capture it, and kill him 
and all on board. Then she told him that 
when she becanie aware of these facts she de- 
termined to warn him of his danger. She 
said one reason that impelled her to this 
course was that he had generously spared 
the life of her cousin whom he captured in 
the spring of 1870, near Puerto Principe. She 
then earnestly implored him to protect his 
life by not accompanying any more expedi- 
tions, that the Spanish government had de- 
termined uiDon his destruction, and that there 



Gen, Ryan, 219 

was little hope for him outside of Providenc 
if captured. She further told him that she 
would soon go to Havana, where her influence 
was strong with the highest officials, and that 
if he went on another expedition, and got 
into any trouble she would make every sac- 
rifice to get him out ot it. 

It might have been well for the gallant 
Kyan if he had taken the advice oi the be- 
witching lady. There is not a doubt but that 
she was true in her professions of friendship 
for him, because when she went to Havana 
she wrote him a long and interesting letter 
descriptive of her reception, which was one 
of magnificence. She also mentioned how 
he was looked upon by the officials in Hav- 
ana, and the hate they bore him and all 
Cuban rebels. 

A few short weeks afterwards when poor 
Kyan lay condemned to death, in Santiago's 
gloomy prison, he thought of his beautiful 
friend's warning and promise of aid. But it 
availed nothing, for Butcher Burriel would 
allow his victims no communication with 
friends, and he was murdered without she 
being able to raise her voice in his behalf. 
When the public press announced the con- 
pletion of Burriel' s bloody work, the awful 
news feel like a hideous pall upon her spirits 
and threw deepest mourning around her heart 
for many months afterwards. 



220 Life of 

She well remembers the last interview she 
had with '-'-Carriey 

THE ILL-FATED YIROINIUS EXPEDITION. 

E'ow comes the sorrowful task of recording 
in a tangible form the events of the last 
blow our hero struck lor Cuba's freedom, and 
which ended so tragically. Although tlie 
main facts in the bloody drama may have 
found a lodgment in the memory of the 
liberty-lovers of the world, still there are many 
interesting facts connected with that fiendish 
work that might never have reached the 
public if it were not that circumstances 
greatly favored the author of this humble 
book in his efforts to collocate reliable infor- 
mation, and to thereby add a chapter to the 
history of the times. The writer's ambition 
is to have the intelligent people of all nations 
fully aroused to the heinousness of the crimes 
that Spain has perpetrated against civilization 
in her barbarous and devilish treatment of the 
poor Cubans because of their attempt to 
throw off her galling and tyrannical yoke. 

During the months of August and Septem- 
ber the Cuban leaders of New York were 
cautiously perfecting their plans to send to 
their friends on the Island relief in men, mu- 
nitions, arms, and army supplies of all kinds. 

That Spanish spies might be thrown off 
their guard as to what was on the tapis, Gen. 



Gen. Ryan, 221 

Ktan went to Northern IsTew York and made 
his headquarters at Schoharie, a delightful 
and very fashionable summer retreat, where 
he could communicate with his friends, and 
be safe in his interviews with those con- 
nected with the important project on hand. 

While at Schoharie he, apparently, gave 
himself up to the full enjoyment of the many 
pleasures that lay in wait for him no matter 
where he roamed. And rumor even had it 
that he had given up the Cuban cause and sur- 
rendered to the lovely Miss Annie L. Geb- 
hard, one of the most attractive of the many 
beautiful worhen of the charming little town, 
and a member of one of the oldest and most 
Honorable families in the country. There 
appears to have been some foundation for 
this report, for after the dashing young cava- 
lier's murder it was published that they were 
to have been married on his return from the 
ill-fated expedition. However, this was the 
gossip about him and Miss Belle Burche of 
Washington, and Miss Fannie A. Lockrow of 
]>Tew York, two lovely and accomplished 
ladies of the fashionable world. In reality 
he was entirely absorbed in the work that led 
him to the grave. 

By the end of September all arrangements 
were perfected, and General Ryan returned 
to Washington. Generals Yillegas, "Bem- 
betta" Yarona, Del Sol, Cespe'des, Senor 
Aldama, one of Cuba's strongest friends, and 



222 Life Oj 

others deeply interested in the cause, had 
done their work well, and the prospect 
looked bright for the safe landing of the 
most extensive expedition yet projected. 

General Aguilera, one of the Cuban Com- 
missioners, superintended the purchase of the 
extensive war materials, and had in his 
secret service, as aids. Colonels Jose Boitre, 
Salbadon Penedo, Oscar Yarona, Augustine 
Santa Rosa, and young Euminio Quesada, 
son of Gen. Manuel Quesada. 

And the heroic, war-worn naval veteran, 
Captain Joseph Fry, was to take command of 
the fleet steamer Yirginius, then in Southern 
waters, and land the expedition ; he having 
a short time before very successfully accom- 
plished a like mission with her. 

When everthing was in readiness for the 
departure from ]^ew York the hearts of all 
interested in the desperate venture beat high 
at the glorious prospect of bringing so much 
good cheer to their suffering brethren ; and 
although fully aware of the dangers attend- 
ing their mission, still they believed Fortune 
would not so favor their enemies as she sub- 
sequently did. But when treason and Span- 
ish gold shake hands Fortune soon finds her- 
self bound in iron fetters. 

The evening of October 3rd, 1873, Gen. 
Ryan gazed for the last time upon the glories 
of Washington, the ''city of magnificent dis. 



Gen. Ryan. 228 

tances," where he had drunk so deep of the 
cup of pleasure, and revelled so long in the 
delights ot her enchanting society. He was 
suddenly summoned to ^Tew York, and like 
a true soldier responded immediately. He 
took a hurried leave ot his friends, and by 
10 at night was well on his way to the Em- 
pire city. Before departing he wrote a few 
lines to his brother, Colonel J. G., at Pine 
Bluff, Arkansas, telling him of his intended 
trip, and requesting him not to mention it 
publicly until he wrote by return steamer. 
He went off so hurriedly that he forgot to 
mail this letter until he reached I^ew York. 
If he ever wrote by the return steamer it 
never reached his brother. 

Because of some unlooked for delay the 
party did not get off from ^New York until 
October 6th. As General Kyan was hm-ry- 
ing to the vessel he was arrested for a debt 
ot security, the party making oath he was 
going leave the State. It was a Spanish 
dodge to trammel his movements. However, 
it was decided to liquidate it, sooner than 
the expedition should be detained another 
day, while the court passed upon the matter. 

That night the steamer Atlas swung loos*^ 
from her moorings and sailed out to sea. 

AKEIVAL AT KINGSTON, JAMAICA. 

In due time the Atlas arrived at Kingston, 



^M Life of 

Jamaica, with lier precious human freight, 
October 13th, after a very unpleasant voyage. 

From that time until the party sailed for 
Cuba on the Yirginius, General Kyan and his 
particular friends spent a most sumptuous and 
oyous time among the Jamaicans and the 
distinguished representatives of foreign coun- 
tries. It was one long grand gala day; a 
happy bridal party, soon followed by the 
awful solemnities of a horrible butchery. 

Before starting on the Yirginius General 
Ryan wrote the following letter to General 
George W. Cook, Washington, D. C. It 
was dated Blundell Hall, Oct. 23, 1873 : 

''My Dear Geoege — In one hour we 
leave for Cuba. This is quite sudden, as we 
did not expect to go until to-morrow, and I 
have just returned from the country. We ar- 
rived safely on the 13th inst. Had quite a 
storm on the 7th. All the provisions vrere 
washed overboard, and deck swept fore and 
aft. Captain Harris and the purser were 
badly injured, and we were a sea-sick set. 
The Captain pronounced it the severest hur- 
ricane he ever saw. For hours I thought we 
would all enjoy the novely of a bath in mid- 
ocean. Since our arrival we have had a 
splendid time — feast after feast and ball after 
ball. First a grand ball was given by the 
Peruvian Minister in honor of General Yar- 
ona and myself All the fashion and wealth 



Gen. Ryan. 225 

of the place were present. Mr. Governor 
General Cordova and Judge Tichburn gave 
others, and gaj ones they were. The place 
is filled with beautifnl women and gay and 
splendid fellows, generous to a fault and lib- 
eral as princes. I must say that I never re- 
ceived such attention. I regret that want of 
time will prevent me giving you a detailed 
account of my adventures. I am as fat as a 
bear and gay as a lark, and leave this place 
with many regrets. 

' ' Yery truly, etc. , W. A. C. Kyan. ' ' 

LEAVING KINQSTON. 

On the 23rd of October Capt. Fry signi- 
fied that the Yirginius was in readiness 
to proceed on her mission, so all the party 
embarked. 

Quite a gay company of friends accom- 
panied the adventurers for several miles to 
sea, having in their wake a tugboat to take 
them back. 

A STARTLING ADVENTURE. 

This farewell tribute of love came near 
ending in a tragedy. As the party were 
leaving the Yirginius for the tugboat two of 
them tell overboard into the boiling sea, 
that was running high at the time. These 
were Dr. Govin and another gentleman. As 
soon as the dread alarm reached Gen. Ryan, 



226 Life of 

who had jnst stepped into his cahin, he hur- 
ried on deck, threw off his coat, jumped into 
the sea, and at the risk of his own life saved 
his two friends from a watery grave. 

This heroic act was only one of a number 
in the short life of one of the bravest young 
hearts that ever pulsated in a freeman's 
breast. 

On one occasion he saved the lives of four 
young ladies, capsized from a boat in front of 
Washii]gton City, by similar coolness and un- 
surpassed courage. Among those also in 
danger, and whose life he saved, was a gen- 
tleman who had in several instances endeav- 
ored to, covertly, injure General Ryan in the 
estimation of some ladies. This fact was 
known to the General, but he did not allow 
it to influence him when his jealous enemy 
was in the act of drowning. This truly mag- 
nanimous and heroic part played by the Gen- 
eral soon made a strong friend of his hither- 
to bitter foe. 

Poor Ryan ! he was ever ready to risk his 
life for those in distress. 

AT PORT ATT PEINCE TAKESTQ- ON BOARD THE 

WAR MATERIALS. 

On the 2Tth of October, 1873, the Yirgin- 
ius steamed into Port au Prince, Hayti, and 
there, beneath the secret shadows of night, 
took on board her war materials, consisting 



Gen. Ryan. 221 

of field artillery, rifles, pistols, sabres, ma- 
chettes, and munitions of all kinds, and med- 
icines, clothing, horses and accoutrements. 

Notwithstanding the secresj of her move- 
ments, the Spanish consul became very much 
alarmed when he discovered that the notori- 
ous Yirginius was in port, and he created so 
much disturbance because of her presence 
that she was compelled to hurriedly go to 
sea on the 28th of October. 

THE FATAL TELEGRAM. 

Immediately on the Yirginius leaving Port 
au Prince the Spanish Consul telegraphed to 
Santiago de Cuba the fact of her suspiciou*^: 
movements. The famous Spanish war vessel- 
Tornado was in port when the telegram was 
received, and her commander, Senor Castillo, 
at once weighed anchor, and commenced a 
cruise, the result of which elevated him to a 
very conspicuous place of honor in the history 
of his country. 

A strange coincidence may be here men- 
tioned. The Yirginius and Tornado were 
built together in Scotland, by the same firm, 
as Confederate blockade runners. They were 
very fleet. After the war between the ]^orth 
and South the Tornado was sold to the Peru- 
idan government, and afterwards passed into 
the hands of the government of S]3ain, and 
was converted into a man of war. The Yir- 



228 LifQ of 

ginius passed into private hands, and her 
name was changed from the Yir^in to the 
Yirginins. She was used as a merchantman 
until chartered by the Cubans as a blockade 
runner, in July, 18Y3, when she successfully 
landed Gen. Quesada's expedition from As- 
pinwall. 

THE PURSUIT. 

On the ever memorable evening of the 31st 
of October, 1873, the Tornado sighted her 
prey as she was heading for the '' ever faith- 
ful isle." 

About the same time the Yirginius discov- 
ered the suspicious vessel, and believing it 
must be a Spanish cruiser, immediately com- 
menced retreating towards the coast of Ja- 
maica. As soon as the Tornado discovered 
the change of course she concluded that her 
suspicions were correct, and that the fleeing 
ship was none other than her old comrade, 
the Yirgin(ius). Then she immediately 
crowded on all steam and sail, and began 
the pursuit. The Yirginius also fired up, and 
strained every nerve to distance her relentless 
enemy. Each vessel did its best, and soon 
two long streams of fire and smoke stretched 
along the horizon as the death struggle com- 
menced. 

Gradually the Tornado began to gain upon 
her victim. This seemed unaccountable to 
Captain Fry, as both vessel were of the exact 



Gm. Ryan. 229 

rate of speed before the Tornado had become 
so encumbered bj her heavy armament, 
which would most certainly make her less 
rapid. This fact jlistiiies the general belief 
that the engines of the Yirginius had been 
tampej:ed with by some traitor. 

When those on board the Yirginius dis- 
covered that she was losing ground the most 
intense excitement broke forth. Seeing this 
Captain Fry advised Generals Ryan and 
Yarona to lighten the vessel by having the 
artillery, gun carriages, horses, heavy ammu- 
nition, and everything else calculated to re- 
tard her speed, thrown overboard, which was 
immediately done. But this did not seem to 
help matters much, while the excitement and 
confusion grew worse. Concluding that they 
would be captured, and knowing that them- 
selves, and probably all on board, would be 
murdered. Generals Yarona and Ryan ad- 
vised the immediate 

BLOWING UP OF THE VESSEL. 

Captain Fry would not countenance this, stat- 
ing that the ship's papers were all regular, 
and taken out for Port Limon, Costa Rica, 
and would be respected by the Spanish au- 
thorities ; and that the only serious results of 
a capture would be a short detention and 
confinement, until the status of the vessel 
could be established. 

This declaration had the effect of somewhat 



230 Life of 

allaying the fears of the crew, but did not 
change the opinions of Generals Kyan, Ya- 
rona, Del Sol and Cespedes, as to their fate 
if captured. 

By slow degrees the Tornado lessened the 
distance between herself and the Yirginius, 
notwithstanding the latter exerted all her 
powers to keep out of cannon range. 

By 10 o'clock the crisis came. 

Boom, boom, boom, spoke the Tornado's 
guns in tones that fell like a pall upon those 
crowding the doomed ship's decks, while the 
heavy shot screeched over their heads and 
sent a chill to nearly all of their hearts., 

The chase was at an end, and the summons 
to surrender was complied with immediately, 
Captain Fry believing that no Spanish tyrant 
would dare outrage the American govern- 
ment by injuring those sailing under her flag 
and properly credentialed. Alas ! for such 
credulity. It soon appeared that Spain's 
minions dared commit one of the most heinous 
breaches of international law that ever dis- 
graced humanity, and which challenged the 
horror of the civilized world. 

THE CAPTUKE. 

In a few minutes after the Yirginius hove 
to two Spanish officers, Don Angel Oetiz 
Monasterio and Don Enrique Pardo, with a 
detachment of marines from the Tornado, 
boarded her. 



Gen. Ryan. 231 

Captain Fry showed his papers to the 
boarding officer, and protested against the 
legality of his vessel's capture. The officer 
replied that he cared not what flag she car- 
ried, she was a pirate. Then turning to one 
of the marines he shouted : 

'•Take down that d — d rag, and hoist up 
our colors." 

This was done, and the stars and stripes, 
the idol of all true Americans, was stretched 
on the deck and trampled beneath the feet of 
Spain's brutish hirelings. 

Captain Fry remonstrated against the das- 
tardly outrage, and told the insolent Spani- 
ards that they would not dare to thus insult 
the American flag if the Yirginius' crew and 
passengers were armed. The shameful con- 
duct of the Spanish officers was testified to 
by Mr. King, one of the captured vessel's 
engineers, and a British subject, whose life 
was saved. This gentleman said that for 
some unaccountable reason the Yirginius did 
not exceed eight knots an hour during the 
chase, when her usual speed was sixteen. 

No further evidence is necessary to con- 
vince the most skeptical that the capture of 
the Yirginius was due to base treachery. 

For his remonstrance, Captain Fry and 

Mr. Rigo, General Del Sol's secretary, and 

eight others, were securely tied in the cabin. 

Generals Ryan, Yarona, Cespedes and Del 



232 Life of 

Sol having been immediately recognized by 
the boarding officers, were placed nnder a 
strong guard, and not permitted to speak. 

The Spaniards were so intoxicated with 
joy at the capture tliat they hooted, howled, 
jeered and ranted in the most insane manner, 
and disgraceful in the extreme. 

Wlien the excitement had subsided General 
Kyan and the rest of the prisoners were 
transferred to the Tornado, and both vessels 
s eamed for Santiago de Cuba, where they 
arrived on the 1st of Kovember, 1873, at 5 
o'clock p. m. 

THE TRIAL FOUND GUILTY OF PIRACY. 

It would be an insult to justice to call the 
inquisition held on board of the Tornado a 
jucficial aifair that condemned to death Gen. 
Kyan, and the rest of the one hundred and 
fifty one persons captured on the Yirginius, 
on the baseless charge of piracy. E'everthe- 
less such it was styled, and Generals Ryan, 
Yarona, Del Sol and Cespedes were selected 
as the first victims, their execution to take 
place at 6 o'clock on the morning of Novem- 
ber 4th, 1873. 



THE MURDER. 

After the farce of a trial was over General 
Ryan, and Generals ^'Bembetta" Yarona, 



Gen, Ryan, 233 

Jesus Del Sol, and Oscar Cespedes, were re- 
moved from the Tornado and placed in the 
dismal jail of Santiago. As they passed 
through the streets they were hooted and 
jeered at by some of the large concourse that 
had assembled to gaze on them. But they 
heeded not their cowardly insults, and flashed 
back scorn and defiance at the blood-thirsty 
rabble of Butcher Burriel, the commander of 
Santiago. 

The prison into which the condemned men 
were placed was solid, dismal, iron-bound, 
drtjary, silent and awe-inspiring. It was the 
evening before their murder that they were 
put into this gloomy abode, and the heavy 
iron bars closed upon them. 

The moralist will inquire how they spent 
their last night on earth. 

As heroes should. As soon as they were 
informed of their fate they commenced writ- 
ing letters ot love, friendship and business. 
This through, they gave themselves up to con- 
versation with the Roman Catholic clergy, 
who visited upon them the last rites of the 
church. They loooked their fate squarely in 
the face, and determined to meet it as only 
those can who die for a great principle. 

General Ryan wrote five letters, besides 
his last will and testament. They were to 
his brother in Arkansas, his mother in Chi- 
cago, Illinois ; Miss Belle Burche, Washing 



234 Lift of 

ton, D. C. ; Miss Annie L. GiibliMi'cl, Sclio- 
liarie, INew York, and General George W. 
Cook, Washington, D. C. Tiiese were in 
as firm a hand as if written when life seemed 
most promising. The six were placed in one 
package to be sent to Genea-al Cook, but by 
some mistake it was directed to Gen. Geo. 
W. Smith. JSTot being called for, it went to 
the dead letter office, where the true owner 
was discovered by Mr. England of that de- 
partment. General Cook was then notified, 
and he receipted for it. Afterwards he sent 
the last precious missives to their several ad- 
dresses. Eight months had now elapsed 
since they were written. 

The following are copies of the letters to 
his brother and mother, and ot the will: 

Prison, St, Jago de Cuba, Nov. 3, 1873, 10:30 p.m. 
My Dear Brother — At six o'clock to-morrow morning 
my lamp of life will be exhausted, and the grave will 
open to receive my cold and silent corp-e The steamer 
Virginius was captured off the coast of Jamaica on the 
Slsc of October, three days ago, by the Spanish man-of- 
Tornado. We were taken to this port — 151 passengers and 
cr^w— and Gen. B. Varona, M. Oespedes, bro her of Pres- 
ident Cespedes Colonel Sol, and myselt, were condemned 
:!S Cuban soldiers, and c^ndt-mned to death. As I wrote 
you from Washington, General Geo. W. Cook has all my 
trunks and papers, also a full powe- of attorney, which I 
revoke in my will, and gife «ll my property to you. See 
Gen. Cook, settle my debt'^, and keep all the propertv. I 
owe Governor Gibbs abo-t $600 ; Gen. Cook $2,000. 'That 
is about all. Anything that General Cook says will be all 
rijiht. He is my partner in the chrome and asbestos prop- 
er y, which I value at $100,000. He will act honorably 
with you. Send t'le enclosed letter to our dear mother. 



Gen. Ryan. 235 

Do not neglect her, and God will bless and protect you. 
Farewell, dear brother. W, A. C, Ryan. 

N. B.— My ring, medal and cbarni-buliet. General Cook 
will send you. Destroy all my lady friends' letters. 

CoL. J. G. Ryan, Pine Bluff, Arkansas. 

THE WILL. 

Know all men by these presents that I, W. A. C. Ryar, 
being in sound mind, do make this my first and last will,' 
giving all my property, real and personal, to my brother, 
John George Ryan. All my right, title and interest in 
arid to all tracts or parcels of land in Montgomery county, 
State of Maryland, and con training chrome and asbestos] 
now appearing upon the rec r Is in the names of William' 
Loughudge and W. A. C. Kyan. All my interest in 
the copper mines on the Musselshell, in Montana ; my 
<-laim aiiainst the government, and my claim a-tains't W. 
A. Whittaker and James Thayer, and ail property des- 
cribed in a power of attorney given to Geo. W. Cook, Oct. 
3rd. 1873. My interest in Montana territory I value at 
$100,000, and the chrome and asbestos at $50,000. Gov. I. 
L. Gibbs is to receive six hundred dollars, and General 
Oook two thousand. My brother, John Geo. Rvan, shall 
do with the property as he may feel disposed.^ In testi- 
mony whereof I have caused my seal to be affixed this 
3rd day of November, 1873. W. A. C. Ryan. 

Witness : Israael Joss Bertbard. 

THE LETTER TO HIS MOTHER, 

My Dear Mother— Long ere this reaches you I will 
be in my cold and silent grave. The priests' have just 
left us, and I am prepared to die. 1 do not fear d^ath. I 
die ;is I lived, fearing nothing but the God above me I 
left Kingston, Jamaica, on the steamar Virginius. She 
was captured by the Spanish mau-of war Tornado on the 
31st of October, 20 miles from Jamaica. We were brought 
here, coudtmned as Cubans, and sentenced jto be shot at 
six o'clock to-morrow morning — General B. Varona, M. 
Cespedes. Colonel Sol, and myself. The other passengers 
may get off. The steamer, when captured, had no arms 
on board. Dear mother, may G )d forgive me it I have 
ever offended you, or caused you one moment's pain. Say 
to my dear sister that I fondly lo /e her, and deeply regret 
not being able to see her ere my departure from this earth. 



236 Life of 

Farewell, darling mother, for a short time ; we will 
soon meet my dear father in heaven. May God protect 
you, mother. Fondly your son, W. A. C. R. 

As it has be doubted that Gen. E-yan re- 
ceived the last holy offices of the Roman 
Catholic church before his death, it is only 
necessary to refer to the unfortunate young 
hero's statement in his letter to his mother. 
He never forgot for a moment the church he 
was born in, even though he may not have 
lived up strictly to her doctrines. But he was 
no religious bigot. He never mtertered with 
the opinions of others, and deprecated fan- 
atical religious broils, and especially where 
they were calculated to keep Irishmen dis- 
united. 

When the good priests left the condemned, 
who did not feel like sleeping, Gen. Yarona 
suggested that a song would drive away any 
ghastly gloom that had gathered around, and 
called upon General Ryak to give them 
"Hurrah for the next that dies," it being 
applicable to their wretched situation. This 
being agreeable to all, General Ryan sang inr 
a clear, full, musical voice that grim, ghostly, 
demoniacal farewell of the British soldiers 
who were cut off from succor in some deso- 
late region of the East Indies, and all per- 
ished by cholera. One of the number was 
an educated man, and he composed the sh id- 
dering refrain, which was sung with boister- 
ous sang f void as each unfortunate stepped in- 



Gen. Ryan. 237 

to eternity. The following are the last stanzas ; 

Who dreads to the dust returning ? 

Who shrinks from the sable shore, 
Where the high and haughty yearning 

Of the soul can sting no more? 
No ! stand to your glasses ! steady I 

The world is a world of lies ; 
Ont. cup to the dead already ; 

Hurrah for the next that dies. 

Cut off from the land that bore us, 

Bef rayed by th*^ land we find. 
Where the brightest are gone before us. 

And the dullest are left behind. 
Stand ! stand to your glasses, etc. 

As the last notes of the weird and startling 
song died npon the midnight air the quar- 
tette gave ^ a long, loud, electrifying cheer 
tor Cuba Libre, which echoed and re-echoed 
throughout the dismal prison, and was lis- 
tened to by the awe-struck, astonished and 
bewildered sentinel. This man's heart was 
touched by the prisoners' dark situation. He 
noticed that they had no beverage to make 
the song a reality, and having a flask of good 
brandy he shared it with them, and they 
merrily drank the noble fellow's health, while 
tears of sympathy rolled down his bronzed 
cheeks. 

THE EXECUTIOJSr. 

Kight passed away quickly, and the fatal 
morning found the condemned apparently as 
light-hearted as if preparing for a joyous fete. 

The 4th of I^ovember, 1873, will never be 
forgotten while intelligence reigns king of 



238 Life of 

the world. At five o'clock in the morning 
the bells of the old historical town of Santi- 
ago began to toll mournfully. It was the 
signal of death, and the inliabitants com- 
menced hurriedly assembling at the scene of 
blood. 

At twenty minutes to six the four martyrs, 
Generals Ryan, Yarona, Del Sol and Cespe- 
des, were marched from the prison to the 
place of execution, their hands being tied be- 
hind their backs. A strong body of soldiers 
formed the guard. Along the route to 

THE SLAUGHTER PEN 

a number of ruffians hooted and howled, but 
the great majority ot those assembled pre- 
served a respectful silence, apparently of 
sympathy tor tlie poor victims of Spanish 
liate and tyranny. 

The slaughter house to which they were 
led is a low, square building, fronting south 
of east, and the last one on the suburbs. A 
wall runs around ihis, which is flanked by a 
wide ditch, upon whose brink hundreds of 
Cubans have knelt to their death, and had 
their blood and brains spattered on the 
wall, while their quivering bodies rolled into 
the filthy chasm. 

Before this blood-stained and bullet-batter- 
ed wall General Ryan and his three comrades 
were halted. They were cool, calm and col- 



Cren. Ryan. 239 

lected, with a smile of defiance and scorn 
overspreading their bronzed faces. General 
Kyan seemed as indifferent as if nothing ex- 
traordinary was about to transpire. The 
awful shadow of death hanging over him left 
not the faintest shadow upon his features, 
but instead a bright glow reigned in kingly 
majesty over all. 

As the prisoners halted upon the brink of 
the ditch into wliich their lifeless bodies were 
soon to roll, to be trampled by the iron hoofs 
of Spanish dragoons, the guard formed three 
sides of a square around them, the wall mak- 
the fourth. Then the death warrant was 
read, and the condemned were asked if they 
had anything to say. 

General Ryan answered for himself and 
comrades briefly, as follows : 

' ' Before high heaven I solemnly protest 
against this high-handed act as a murder 
most foul, and a gross insult to the American 
nation, from under the protection of whose 
flag we were defiantly dragged to this unau- 
thorized and unjustifiable butchery. But as 
Spain measures to us, so shall it be measured 
to her. Our base murder, this dark deed 
against civilization, will strengthen the cause 
for which we willingly die, and will brace the 
nerves ol our brothers to strike stronger 
blows for their liberty, and revenge for our 
deaths. Farewell, Iriends. Success to dear 
Cnba. She will yet be free. We are ready." 



240 Life of 

As these words fell from the young hero's 
lips the silence was intense, and the prophetic 
speech could be heard throughout the vast 
crowd, and it remained unbroken until the 
officer ordered the victims 

TO KNEEL AND BE BLINDFOLDED. 

Generals Ktan and Yarona protested 
against this, and then an attempt was made 
to force them on their knees. But as they 
still struggled, and pleaded to be allowed to 
die standing, the officer very humanely 
granted their request. 

The fatal moment had now arrived. The 
death kneel rang out solemnly from the 
old, weather-beaten tower. It was the dread 
hour of six, when four brave spirits were to 
be suddenly hurled into eternity. 

At the summons Generals Cespedes anS 
Del Sol calmly knelt down, facing the blood- 
stained wall. 

But Generals Ryan and Yarona stood up 
firm and erect, not a muscle quivering, and 
no sign of fear visible upon their noble coun- 
tenances, as they gazed upon the mute 
crowd, who seemed horrified at the awful 
tragedy about to be enacted. 

The priests and a few friends then took an 
affectionate farewell of the condemned, and 
the last act of the bloody play was com- 
menced. 



Gen. Ryan, 241 

^ The firing party now took position, tlio 
signal was given, a loud and prolonged report 
followed, and a shower of lead hurled the 
four souls suddenly before their God. Gen. 
Eyan was not instantly killed, so the com- 
mander ot the guard stepped forward and 
thrust his sword tlirongh his heart, and 
ended his misery. This was an act much 
condemned by the general public, but when 
it is looked at in a humane light the ofiicial 
deserved commendation instead of blame for 
putting an end to the gallant fellow's great 
sufferings. The others died easy. 

When life had fled from poor RrAiq- a friend 
stepped forward and cut off a few of his beau 
tiful brown curls, and removed from his 
mangled breast a badge of the order of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, which were, 
together with his seal ring, medal, and the 
bullet cut out of his hip at JSTewbern, ^orth 
Carolina, and worn as a charm, sent to the 
care of his trusted friend General Geo. W. 
Cook, Washington, D. C, for his brother, 
Colonel J. G. 

HORRIBLE FINALE. 

This had scarcely been accomplished before 
the pent up passions of the fiendish portion of 
assemblage broke forth in devilish fury. They 
rushed through the ranks of the soldiers, 
who were leaving the bloody scene, and 
pounced upon the lifeless bodies like beasts 



242 Life of 

:)f prey, howling, screaming and cursing all 
the time in the most revolting manner. 

They cut oif their heads, placed them on 
poles, and marched with them into the city, 
yelling and hooting as they went. 

Then the heavy di-agoons came down upon 
the bleeding, headless trunks, and ground 
them into the mire beneath the iron hoofs of 
their maddened steeds. The artillery fol- 
lowed, and the ponderous wheels crushed in- 
to an unrecognizable mass what had been 
left unbruised by the brutish horsemen. 

This over, the crushed and bleeding corpses 
were thrown into a cart, and from it pitched 
into a hole, and the ground levelled over 
them. 

The horrible and disgusting drama was 
now at an end, and one of the blackest crimes 
ever committed by a nation pretending to be 
civilized was placed u]3on record against 
Spain, and one of her devilish minions. 
Butcher Burriel^ became immortalized as the 
prince of cold-blooded murderers. 

Spain's cup of pleasure was now full. Gen. 
Hyan, one of poor Cuba's best friends, was 
no more, and wild rejoicing was had wher- 
ever her blood-stained banner waved. 

The hellish deed was done. The Ameri- 
can flag had been trampled and spit upon, 
and humanity outraged. 



Gen. Ryan, ^43 

But what cared fossilized, tyrant Spain for 
the United States, or the rest of the world ! 
IS'othing. She had accomplished her bloody 
work, so far, well, and laughed defiance at 
those who might dare dispute her right to 
murder and outrage at pleasure. 

Still the blood-thirsty old fiend was not yet 
satisfied. She must have more blood. 

MURDER OF OAPT. FRY AND THIRTY-SIX OTHERS. 

^ When the four great leaders had been 
silenced forever, and laid beneath the earth 
in their gore, the murderers breathed freely 
and revelled in delight for three days. Then 
their hearts ached tor more blood, a whole- 
sale butchery, and the galJant, heroic, noble 
and chivalrous Capt. Joseph Fry, the com- 
mander of the ill-fated Yirginius. and thirty- 
six of her passengers and crew, were led out 
and slaughtered in the same manner as Gen 
Ryan and his three heroic companions. The 
deportment of Capt. Fry and his unfortunate 
comrades was grand to behold. They died 
like true martyrs, and blessed Cuba with 
their last breath. This horrible deed occurred 
on the 7th of November. Many were not 
killed by the first fi.re, and these were bay- 
oneted to death in a brutal and shocking 
manner, making the spectacle truly frightful. 
The names of the murdered were Capt. 
Joseph Fry; William Barnard, first mate; 
James Flood, second mate ; and seamen 0. 



244 Life of 

Harris, Jolin Bosa, B. P. Chamberlain, Wm. 
Kose, IgnacioDuenas, Antonio Deloyo, Jose 
Manuel Teiran, Ramon Larramendi, Eusebio 
Gariza, Edward Day, J. S. Trujillo, Jack 
Williamson, Porfirio Corvison, P. Alfaro, 
Thomas Craig, Frank Good, Paul hunrer, 
Barney Herrald, Samuel Card, John Brown, 
Alfred Haisell, W. J. Price, Geo. Thomas, 
Ezekiel Durban, T. Walter Williams, Snnon 
Broyeur, Leopold Larose, A. Arci, John 
Stewart, Henry Bond, Geo. Thompson, Jas. 
Samuel, Henry Frank, and James Read. 

On the 8th of ITovember this bloody list 
was lengthened by the murder of eleven 
more poor fellows, making in all fifty-two 
who had fallen because of their devotion to 
the cause of suffering Cuba. Distinguished 
among these martyrs were Col. Jose Boitrl, 
Eminio Quesada, son of General Quesada, 
and only seventeen years of age ; Captain 
Salbadon Penedo, Colonel Oscar Yarona, and 
Augustine Santa Rosa, all of whom accom- 
panied General Ryan from ]^ew York on the 
steamer Atlas to join the Yirginius at Kings- 
ton, Jamaica. Oscar Yarona was the brother 
of General "Bembetta" Yarona, General 
Ryan's great Iriend. 

AEKIVAL OF THE NIOBE. 

This last horrible chapter had scarcely 
been enacted, and preparations completed for 
the murder of the remaining ninety-nine 



Gen. Ryan» 245 

prisoners, already condemned, when the 
Erif sh man-of-war IS'iobe steamed into port, 
and her gallant commander, Sir Lambton 
Lorraine, on learning the awful news, de- 
manded that the bloody work should imme- 
diately stop, proclaiming that he would jeal- 
ously protect the interests of the United 
States until one of her vessels arrived, and 
threatened to bombard the town if any at- 
tempt was made to continue the frighful pro- 
gramme of blood, or to in any way harm 
one ot the prisoners. 

Butcher Burriel quailed before this per- 
emptory demand, and had to bend his knee 
to the bold Briton, whose dauntless courage 
saved from a shocking death the rest of the 
doomed men, and thereby immortalized him- 
self in the hearts of every freeman through- 
out the world. All honor to the noble fel- 
low. Poor Cuba, and the patriotic world, 
bows in homage at his shrine, and his name 
is written in characters of gold upon every 
liberty-loving breast throughout the broad 
universe. And his fame will never die, not- 
withstanding the fact that the Congress of 
the United States refused to pass a vote of 
thanks to him for his chivalrous conduct in 
protecting the honor of the nation, and in 
saving from slaughter ninety-nine helpless 
human beings. But this dissenting act of 
the majority of Congress did not reflect the 
sentiments of the great body of the Amer- 



246 Life of 

ican people, no more than did tlie puerile acts 
of her officials at Washington represent the 
wishes of the nation at the terrible outrage 
upon her flag having been allowed to go un- 
punished. O tempora^ O mores I Shades 
of Andrew Jackson ! and the sons of 1776 I 
How the spirits of the noble departed must 
have wept as they gazed upon the truculent 
part played by those entrusted with the keep- 
ing of the honor of tlie country christened in 
war and baptized with patriotic blood, to a 
barbarous nation that heaped upon her the 
most monstrous insults. 

It was not the murder of General Eyan, 
who had fought four years, and spilt his 
blood for the Union, that, alone, aroused the 
indignation of the American people. It was 
the infamous insult offered to the flag their 
fathers fought to maintain. This is why the 
people JSTorth, South, East and West, cried 
in thunder tones for revenge for Spain's 
heinous crime. And it is because they were 
not allowed an opportunity to wipe out this 
outrageous insult that the noble and patriotic 
sons of this glorious Union now hold down 
their heads in sadness, and weep that the 
heads of the government had basely deserted 
their post of trust when tyrant Spain spat 
in their faces, trampled upon their honor, 
and laughed at their pallid looks. 

THE murderers' PURPOSE. 

To show that Butcher Burriel intended, 



Gen, Myan, 247 

from the moment of their capture, to murdei 
as speedily as possible all those found on the 
Yirginius, it is only necessary to mention 
the startling fact that the fiend would not 
allow tidings of his bloody work to pass over 
the telegraph wires to the outer-world until 
after the gallant Sir Lambton Lorraine made 
him halt in his devilish career. 

Up to this time the American and British 
Consuls were held in their residences as pris- 
oners, by Devil BurriePs myrmidons, and 
not allowed to discharge the functions ol 
their oiSces. Notoriously, it would seem, 
was this the case as to the representative of 
the United States, who was treated most 
shamefully, his life being threatened several 
times. 

It was not until the 8th of J^ovember— 
eight daj^s after the capture of the Yirjoinius, 
and lorn- subsequent to the murder of Gen. 
Ryan and his three comrades, that news of 
the frightful outrage reached the United 
States, and that only through the energy of 
American journalists in Havana. 

]No official news of the capture, and the 
first four murders, reached Washington until 
the 10th of November. At least such was 
the substance of an answer to a telegram 
of inquiry that Col. J. G. Ryan sent to Sec- 
retary Fish. This fact goes to prove one of 
two things: first, that the Spanish authorities 
grossly trammeled the American Consul ; or, 



248 Life of 

second, that the latter was criminally negli- 
gent in his duties. 

The first appears to have been the true 
status of affairs. And this is why the people 
of the United States felt that their country 
was doubly outraged, and made them clamor 
wildly for revenge. 

When it became an indisputable fact that 
the Yirginius had been captured and General 
Eyan butchered, the appalling news fell up- 
on his relatives and friends with crushing 
effect. They were shocked, stunned, para- 
lyzed by the awful tale ot blood, and thrown 
into a gloom so dark and ghastly that no sun 
of happiness can ever dispel the black traces 
of woe. The blow was terrible to his fond 
mother and sister, whom he dearly loved. 
They were stricken down, and it was many 
months ere there was any hope ot their re- 
covery. And the calamity threw a deep 
veil of gloom and heart-rending sorrow over 
the murdered hero's two brothers. For three 
long weeks after he received official news of 
the bloody tragedy, Colonel J. G. was pros- 
trated with brain fever, and it took all the 
skill of his eminent physicians, Drs. ITol- 
combe & Wright, and the tender care of his 
friend Col. Clias. G. ISTewman, and family, 
to restore him to health. It is said that the 
shocking murder of his brother cast a shadow 
over his heart that will abridge his life many 
years, and make it less sunny and joyous. 



Gen. Ryan. ^49 

And there were other hearts and heads 
that ached when the intelligence of the fiend- 
ish massacre reached them — heads and hearts 
of both lady and gentlemen friends through- 
out the American continent who admired the 
noble young hero, and in whose loving hearts 
his tame will ever hold a hallowed place. 

But he had been ruthlessly torn from rela- 
tives and friends, cruelly murdei-ed by Span- 
ish tyrants, was lost to them forever, and 
nothing was left them to do but to mourn that 
the a^ay, dashing, brave and handsome Gen. 
" Whack " Ryan would never again gladden 
their eyes on earth. 

THE AMERICAN PEESS AND STATESMEN ON THE 

MASSACRE. 

When the news of the brutal massacre of 
a number of the passengers and crew of the 
Yirginius became a fact the press of the 
country, with a few unimportant exceptions, 
raised its mighty voice for prompt and 
speedy revenge for the horrible butchery and 
the outrage heaped upon the American flag, 
and called upon the government to at once 
recognize Cuba's independence. They stig- 
niatized Spain's crime as the most heinous 
that ever blackened the record of a nation. 

And such learned and able statesmen as 
the late Hon. Reverdy Johnston, and the 
late Yice President Wilson, arraigned Spain 



-50 Life of 

in the same jnst way for her damnable work 
of blood. Jfotwithstanding all this, and the 
storm of the people's rage that rolled itself 
like an avalanche against the White House 
and Congress, the foul murderess was per- 
mitted to go free by mockingly saluting t!ie 
flag she grossly insulted, and promising to 
pay $2,500 to the families of each ot the vie 
tims of her tyrannical wrath. 

And the Yirginius was accidentally(?) 
sunk, that litigation might be stopped in that 
direction. Thus ending one of the most dis- 
graceful farces that ever stained the fair rep- 
utation ot a nation established by the purest 
patriots that ever struck a blow for liberty, 
leaving her to be scoffed at by the blood- 
thirsty country that caused her degradation, 
and which promoted to high position Butcher 
Bnrriel for playing his villainous part so 
well. 

But what mattered it all. The life of the 
gallant Ryan and his brave companions, and 
the honor of the American nation, amounted 
to nothing so the pockets of government 
pets were filled with Spanish gold. 

The public press, while dealing with the 
main points of the Yirginius horror, never 
for a moment forgot to honor the noble, chiv- 
alrous and gentlemanly character of General 
Ryan. Some administration organs were 
exceptions to the rule, they stigmatizing him 



Gen. By an, 251 

as 2i filibuster^ in their ignorance forgetting 
that, in attempting to cast a slur upon him, 
they were blackening the records of Amer- 
ica's idols — Lafayette, Steuben, De Kalb, 
Pulaski and Kosciusko — who had acted in 
the same manner as General Rtai^ did when 
they entered the service of the United States, 
in their fight to throw off the yoke of Great 
Britain, before any country had recognized 
their independence. " Wherein, then," 
asked ' Soloman Sias, ' in the Schoharie, JS". 
Y., Republican^ "is the difference betAveen 
Lafayette and Ktan ? Simply in the fact 
that Lafayette lived until the country he came 
to assist won her acknowledged indepen- 
dence," while General Ryan was murdered 
as poor Cuba was rocking in the throes of 
her fierce struggle for the same great boon. 

And the same writer continues: "When 
we fail to condemn the horrible murder of 
General Ryan, or cease to admire his efforts 
for Cuba's liberty, let us strike from the 
pages of history the name of Lafayette and 
the other noble foreigners who fought for 
the freedom of the United States when they 
were unrecognized by any of the nations of 
the earth." 

CONCLUSION. 

The long narrative of Gen. Ryan's event- 
ful life and tragic death has now been told, 
and though never so imperfectly, still the 



252 Life of 

author feels satisfied with his humble efforts 
to do justice to the memory of his martyred 
hero, as well as to make his book acceptable 
to the general reader. So, after giving ab- 
ridged sketches of the lives of Generals Yar- 
ona, Oespedes, Del Sol, and Captain Fry, and 
alhiding to what became of the personal 
effects General Kyan left in Washington, and 
touching on other interesting matters relating 
to him, he will say au revoir to his indulgent 
readers. 

THE LATE GEN. GEO. A. CUSTER ON GEN. RYAN. 

General Geo. A. Custer, the brave, fear- 
ess soldlier, and elegant gentleman, who, 
with his Spartan command^ was massacred 
in June 1876, on the Big Horn, Montana 
Territory, by Sitting Bull and his savage 
Sioux, was a great admirer of General Ryan. 
When he heard of his foul murder he said : 

"Poor Ryan, he was a gallant fellow, a 
splendid officer, and a gentleman without a 
blemish. Cuba lost her best friend when he 
fell. His dashing figure, chivalric bearing, 
handsome face, and elegant manners, made 
him a favorite wherever he went." 

Other illustrious men replied to the au- 
thor's interrogatories in the same eulogistic 
strain ; and the same sweet refrain came to 
him from every region of the country — from 
the icy-fields of his hero's birth-place, and 
the lovely orange groves of the Gulf- washed 



Gen. Bijan. 253 

Sunny South — wliere the young martyr's 
fame had reached. 

GEN. Ryan's personal effects. 

General Eyan had elegant rooms over 
Chas. P. Gautier's fashionable restaurant on 
Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D. C. 
After his murder, his friend, General George 
W. Cook, Colonel Aiken of the National 
Republican^ and others, visited the apart- 
ments, and Gen. Cook took possession of all 
they contained that belonged to Gen. Ryan. 
This occurred on the 15th of JSTovember, 1873. 
Among the effects were a magnificent and 
very valuable sword, a present to the Gen- 
eral ; a blue silk banner, presented to him by 
the Cuban ladies of E'ew York ; and a Scrap 
Book containing most every newspaper refer- 
ence to the General during his public career. 
On these articles Colonel John Geo. E-yan 
placed great value. When he arrived in 
Washington, and General Cook turned over 
to him his brother's effects, these were 
missing^ and the General could not ac- 
count for either of them, save that Colonel 
Aiken had borrowed the Scrap Book. The 
Colonel protested that he had returned it to 
the General. All this seemed very strange 
to Colonel Pyan, and if General Cook had 
not been such a strong friend of his brother 
he would have concluded that something 
was criminally wrong. . When Colonel Ryan 



254 Life of 

left Washington lie placed the matter in de- 
tective Coomes' hands to hunt up the mis- 
sing things. The banner is still unaccounted 
lor, but the Scrap Book has been traced to 
one of Colonel Aiken's friends, and General 
Cook found the sword in a pawn-broker's 
shop. This was the latest news recived from 
Capt. John W. Fenton, of Washington, by 
Colonel Kyan, in July 1876. 

Another thing seems strange. The medal 
ring, charm-bullet and compass, sent from 
Santiago, to the care of General Cook, have 
not yet reached Colonel Eyan. 

VARONA, CESPEDES, DEL SOL, AND FRY. 

Gen. "Bembetta" Yaeona was a native 
of Cuba, and born in Puerto Principe in 
1845, and was 28 years of age when he was 
murdered. He was highly educated, and 
a gentleman without a peer. His family was 
one of the best on the Island. He was one 
of the first to join the Insurgents, and did 
valuable service up to the time of his death. 
He was captured once, but miraculously 
made his escape. He was a General of 
Division. He was tall, well made, with 
black e^^es and hair, handsome, chivalrous, 
courteous, and recklessly brave. He and 
General Ryan were stanch friends. 

Gen. Jestjs Del Sol w^as thirty-four years 
old at the time of his death. He was a Cu- 



Gen. Ryan. 255 

ban statesman, and gallant soldier. He hated 
Spain, and nsed all his energies to see Cuba 
freed from her tyrannical grasp. His wife 
died soon after the commenct^ment of the 
Revolution. He left four orphan children in 
the United States to mourn his loss. Ko 
braver man ever died for liberty. 

Pedro Cespedes, a younger brother of 
tlie late Cuban President, who was captured 
and murdered by the Spaniards in 1874, was 
born in Bayamo, in the Eastern portion of 
Cuba. At the time of his execution he was 
fifty years old. For his country he gave up, 
like his compatriots, wealth, ease and luxury, 
and at last his life. He occupied both civil 
and military positions of importance and 
honor. He was a gallant soldier and a per- 
fect gentleman. 

Captain Joseph Fey, the commander of 
the ill-fated Yirginius, was only forty years 
of age when he was ruthlessly sent into eter- 
nity by the fiendish Spaniards. He was a 
native of Florida, and was born in Tampa 
Bay. His family was very aristocratic. At 
jm early age he determined upon the navy as 
a profession. Accordingly he presented him- 
self before President Tyler, and asked to be, 
and was, sent the IJ. S. Naval Academy at 
Annapolis, from which he grduated with 
honors. He served as a Captain in the 
United States navy until the breaking out of 



256 Life of Gen. Ryan. 

the great Rebellion, when he resigned, and 
joined the Confederacy, and served in her 
army and navy during the w^ar with distinc- 
tion and honor. He was as brave a man 
as ever drew a sword for principle. He en- 
tered the Cuban blockade service from pure 
necessity. The reverses of the war made 
him poor, as it did all true Confederates, and 
he was forced to accept any legitimate busi- 
ness calculated to furnish a support tor his 
much beloved wife and children. He died 
the hero, soldier, and christian ; and left be- 
hind a record that those looking for honor 
and fame will ever try to emulate. 

SECRET SOCIETIES. 

It is a question whether or not Gen. Ryan 
was a Mason. But there is one fact that sus- 
tains the belief that he was; and that is this: 
among his papers was found a notification to 
appear before a Kew York lodge for initia- 
tion into the mysteries ot that sublime order. 

He belonged to the Grand Army of the 
Republic, and was a member oi Winthrop 
Post, New York. 

He was also Grand Khedive of the Anci- 
ent Order of Egyptian Monks. 

*'Now lies he low— no more to hear, 

The victor's shout or clashing steel 
No more of war's rude cares to bear, 

No more kind sympathy to feel. 
No more he charges with the host. 

The thickest of tho battle-field ; 
No more to join in victory's boast, 

No more to see the vanquished yield." 

FINIS. 



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